Don't be fooled by the name.

The Columbia County Civic Orchestra is looking for musicians, but membership is not restricted to residents.

The orchestra has 42 members, and founder Rob Nordan said the group needs violin, double bass, bassoon and French horn players.

He said the orchestra includes musicians from Lincoln, Emanuel and Aiken counties, and the performers include band directors, music teachers and former Augusta Symphony players.

"This gives them an opportunity to play some classical music and also to grow a new ensemble in the CSRA," Mr. Nordan said.

Mr. Nordan, the associate minister of music at West Acres Baptist Church and band director at Augusta Christian Schools, founded the orchestra in February.

"Some of the people that play in my church orchestra wanted an outlet for classical string music," he said. "There are a lot of people in the area that don't play in the symphony that are good players."

He also oversees the group's activities as its conductor and music director.

The orchestra practices 7-9 p.m. each Monday at West Acres Baptist on Gibbs Road in Evans. Mr. Nordan said the musicians plan to put on quarterly concerts.

The orchestra held its first performance, "String Classics" in May. The program featured pieces by Bach, Mozart and other classical composers.

The next concert, which will be free to attend, is scheduled for 3 p.m. Aug. 23 at West Acres Baptist. The program will feature popular American music.

The concerts will provide the community with "a venue where people can see live music performed," Mr. Nordan said.

For more information, contact Mr. Nordan at (706) 860-6573, ext. 114, or rob@westacres.org.

Reach Betsy Gilliland at (706) 868-1222, ext. 113, or betsy.gilliland@augustachronicle.com.