Although R. Tad Greig is one of three finalists for the music director and conductor position at the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, he doesn't look at it as competing with the other two.

"I want to make the orchestra better," he said. "If it's sitting in the trombone section, that's great. If it's conducting, that's better."

The important thing is keeping the orchestra going, said Greig, who conducts the symphony in its season finale Saturday.

"We're missing a part of our musical history and our history in general," he said of declining patronage of symphonies, including Greenville's. "Music reflects the history of the time. Whatever is going to keep these orchestras going, I'm willing to do."

In his duties as director of instrumental activities at Westminster College, New Wilmington, Greig directs the Titan Marching and Symphonic bands and Wind Ensemble, co-directs the Jazz Ensemble, coordinates the chamber wind program and teaches trombone and euphonium.

The trombonist for Youngstown Fine Arts Brass has conducted bands and orchestras in a guest capacity, usually college groups at festivals.

"I enjoy very much being a conductor," he said.

Greig, 40, of Mercer, said he's not looking to impose his will on the orchestra. While he sets tempos and playing volume, he wants to make sure everyone stops and starts at the same time and has worked through difficult passages.

"You want to encourage that interplay between the conductor and the musicians," he said. "If it's all dictating -- I don't know, it worked for Toscanini, but they need to have the belief that they can put their hand up and ask questions. It's one ensemble that works together."

Once those details have been worked out in rehearsal, the musicians can be relaxed on performance night, he said.

The Greenville Symphony Society wants to move away from long orchestral pieces, and do more and shorter works in concert. Greig said he would like the symphony to balance the standard orchestral repertoire with newer and lesser known works, all of which need a measure of excitement to interest the audience.

"I think, if you do exciting music well, people will come out and want to hear you," he said. "I want people who just want to hear the orchestra play, but I also want people to know the literature a little better."

As a trombonist, Greig is used to sitting for long periods without playing in some works. He wants to choose works where there is little waiting.

"If it's a full orchestra, I want music where everybody's playing," said Greig, who earned a bachelor's degree in music education from Grove City College, and a master's degree in music education from Youngstown State University.

The orchestra has been "energized" in rehearsals for Saturday's concert, which is titled "Marches, Waltzes and Showtunes" and features pieces by Shostakovich, Delibes, Copland, Bernstein, Aram and Gliere, and a selection of Broadway numbers.

The program, heavy on "fiery" overtures and dance tunes, is "very intensive" to play, said the doctoral candidate in music education at Kent State University.

"The musicians are playing very well, but it's very demanding of everybody," he said.

"I really think it's going to be an enjoyable evening of music. I would encourage people to come out and listen. These are people (musicians) who enjoy music enough that they want to come out and spend the time to create this music. They have other jobs, so their time is very valuable."