STILLWATER, Okla. — The Oklahoma State University Symphony Orchestra will be working with an unlikely partner for its next concert.

The orchestra will play two concerts with progressive rock band Kansas on Sept. 23 and 24 at the Stillwater High School Performing Arts Center.

Brant Adams, OSU’s director of bands, said the music department received copies of the music for the concert earlier this week. The orchestra will prepare the music over the next few weeks, Adams said. The orchestra will have one rehearsal with the band before the concerts, he said.

Adams said the OSU music department has been working with conductor Larry Baird, who is working with the band on the project. Baird has worked with the department to tailor the orchestral parts to fit the orchestra’s personnel, Adams said.

Baird was an arranger and conductor on the band’s 1998 album “Always Never the Same.” Baird was involved in similar projects with British rock band The Moody Blues, Adams said.

The concert gives the orchestra a chance to play music that will appeal to a different audience than usual, Adams said. Adams said he has already heard about fans who intend to come to Stillwater for the concert from as far as Ohio and Michigan. It also gives the students in the orchestra a chance to interact with professional musicians.

“It’s kind of a novel thing to do,” Adams said.

The concerts are a part of the band’s Collegiate Symphony Tour. During the tour, Kansas will play with orchestras at several universities nationwide. The OSU concerts are Kansas’ only stop in Oklahoma, and the OSU Symphony Orchestra is the only ensemble in the country to be playing two concerts with the band, Adams said.

In a news release, Kansas drummer Phil Ehart said the tour benefits both the band and the orchestras with which it plays.

“This college tour is an opportunity to not only showcase our band but the university’s symphony in the best possible manner,” Ehart said.

Adams said the band and the music department had considered pursuing a similar concert about a year ago, but the idea was abandoned because of the small size of OSU’s performing arts center. The band contacted the university recently, saying they were interested in trying again.

The music department was able to work out an agreement with Stillwater High School to hold the concert in the performing arts center there, Adams said.

Tickets to the concert are on sale for $40. Adams said a small block of tickets will be set aside at half price for OSU students. The half-price tickets must be purchased at the music department office. Regular tickets may be purchased through the music department’s website, music.okstate.edu.