Thirty students from local schools will get the chance to perform with internationally renowned big-band leader Maynard Ferguson at a concert next week.

Hickory High School and Marks Music, Hermitage, will present "An Evening with Maynard Ferguson" at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the high school. This is the third time Hickory has hosted Ferguson.

Students from Hickory, Sharon, Kennedy Catholic, Sharpsville, Jamestown and West Middlesex high schools will participate in the concert.

A three-time Grammy nominee, Ferguson, 74, is an instrument designer, record producer, composer, educator/clinician, symphonic guest artist and film soundtrack artist. According to his biography, he "redefined big-band jazz for the '90s."

"While many other bands recreate music of bygone eras, Maynard and company draw upon bebop, straight-ahead jazz, funk, swing, classical and contemporary music to create a fresh sound within the classic big band form," the biography says.

Local musicians who have worked with Ferguson include Bernie and Jonathan Dresel of Sharon and Phil Palombi of Brookfield. Bernie Dresel plays drums with the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Jonathan Dresel plays drums for the ABC show "Jimmy Kimmel Live," and Palumbi does studio work and has a jazz combo with his wife, Sarah Jane Cion.

Tickets, costing $15, are available at Marks Music, (724) 347-7629 or (800) 330-6510. They also will be sold at the door.