About six hours before the Longmont Symphony Orchestra was set to perform Brahms’ Violin Concerto for a audience of some-900 people Saturday night, the ensemble held a performance for a far smaller crowd.

In the same auditorium as its performance later in the evening, the orchestra hosted about 10 people in memory care at Balfour Longmont — a senior living community — for its pre-show dress rehearsal.

The event, the first of its type between the two organizations, was meant to provide those living with memory loss the ability to access the music in a less formal environment, said Longmont Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Sara Parkinson.

“It’s an open dress rehearsal, it’s more flexible,” Parkinson said. “You don’t feel like you’re disrupting if you need to get up. It’s just less pressure overall.”

After arriving on a bus from the community, the group sat down to watch the orchestra, featuring French violinist Sharon Roffman, perform the concerto. Throughout the show, many nodded along to the waves of violin bows throughout the ensemble. Some had their eyes closed.

The idea behind the collaboration, Parkinson noted, was that music can be incredibly meaningful, and has the ability to spark memories and emotions.

After the show, some of the attendees noted just how much they enjoyed getting to experience it. Because all attendees have cognitive impairments, The Denver Gazette chose not to attribute them by name.

“It was great for them to host us for something like this,” said one woman in attendance. “I thought the whole thing was very nice. It was a real treat.”

After Saturday’s event, the orchestra’s next performance will be of “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 6.