Matthew Vera, 17, concertmaster of the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra, will play with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Thursday.

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Young Tucson violist Matthew Vera is more excited than nervous about his performance Thursday with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra.

"It's my debut with a major symphony," said the 17-year-old concertmaster of the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra. "I've performed with other orchestras, but none of this caliber."

Vera is one of three Tucson teens who will get a solo appearance at the 2008 TSO Celebrate the Future concert. The four won the orchestra's annual young artist competition, whose reward included a little pocket change and a solo shot. Vera, who also plays violin and piano, will perform part of Bartók's Viola Concerto.

The TSO win came less than a year after Vera snagged first place last summer for the concerto competition in the prestigious Interlochen Center for the Arts in northern Michigan.

"This has become his life really," said the teen's foster dad, longtime TSO bass player Richard Leek. "His life goal is to become a soloist or symphony player."

Thursday's concert will be the first time Leek and Vera will share the stage. Leek was Vera's first music teacher and stepped in as a surrogate dad several years ago when Vera was placed in foster care.

Vera returns to Interlochen this summer on a full scholarship — one of only 52 awarded nationwide.

Leek said he has not offered the teen any advice for his TSO debut.

"I don't need to," he said. "This kid is so calm standing up there."

The TSO competition attracted competitors from around the state. Other winners:

● Catalina Foothills High senior Alice Cai, on piano. She has twice soloed with the Civic Orchestra of Tucson and launched her school's music club, Vocalise, to showcase the talents of her peers.

● Pianist Jingjing Fan, an eighth-grader in the GATE program at Doolen Middle School, makes her concert debut. Last year, she placed third in the Arizona Youth Piano Competition (Junior Division).

● Mesa cellist Hope Shepherd, who attends Arizona State University.

Two young composers also have their works performed by the TSO:

● Esperero Canyon Middle School seventh-grader Adam Conyne, composer. He has been involved with the TSO's Young Composers Project for three years. The TSO will perform his full-orchestra piece "Storm of Shadows."

● University High School sophomore Nicholas Mariscal, the veteran of the Composers Project with five years under his belt. The TSO in February included his "Sic-Transit Gloria Mundi" on the program of a subscription concert. This year, he chimes in with an homage to Latin American composers with "Espejos del Sur" (Reflections of the South).

Celebrate the Future begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. Tickets are $15 adult, $7.25 for children, $30 for a family of four, through the TSO, 882-8585; or online at www.tucson symphony.org.