GORHAM — The Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra will perform three winning works from the University of Southern Maine School of Music’s first composition competition, including one from a Lewiston resident, on Saturday, Feb. 11.

The orchestra will perform “Unbearable,” by Aaron Pettengill, a junior violin performance major from Saco and Lewiston; “Symphony of Stars,” by Timothy Burns of Buxton; and “Opening Id,” by Nicholas Merriam of Bucksport.

“I really like writing my own music because it allows for more personal expression, but I find that performing my own music is far more nerve-wracking than performing someone else’s music,” Pettengill said.

Pettengill’s creation process relies on a strong start. “For me, a piece starts to come together once I have a good beginning. Once I had an idea in my head for that, the rest just fell into place. It took me most of the semester to finish it, but I really only had a couple hours a week to work on it,” he said.

The concert will be at 8 p.m. at Gorham Middle School, 106 Weeks Road. Tickets,  $6/$3 for students, seniors and alumni, will be sold at the door. Snow date: Feb. 15.