Three years ago, a pair of Niles business owners came up with the idea of forming a community orchestra that would allow people of all ages to unite in their love of music and share its audible beauty with the rest of the community.

It started with just a few people meeting to play in the basement of a Niles church. Today, the Niles Area Community Orchestra is a registered non-profit organization whose membership has grown to as many as 60 people.

“We are believers in the benefits of music,” said David Rumpf, who runs the Music Academies in downtown Niles with his wife, Valerie. “We know what it does for people, especially for kids. “It is something we can give to the community that otherwise probably is not going to have it.”

The community will have a chance to hear how far the orchestra has come during the Niles Area Community Orchestra’s Spring Concert, “Classical Roots,” at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Niles High School auditorium, 1441 Eagle St., Niles. The admission fee is a non-perishable food item for the Salvation Army of Niles.

David said they have been performing a few times a year at churches and schools in the Niles area. This will be their 12th concert.

“We hope people come out and see what we can do,” he said.

Back in 2012, the Rumpfs said their goal in creating the orchestra was to help “make Niles a musical magnet.”

“I would love for Niles to have an orchestra in the way that South Bend has a symphony it is known for,” Valerie said in a 2012 interview. “Why can’t Niles have that, too?”

David said while they aren’t there yet, they are moving in that direction.

“We still have a ways to go,” he said. “We’d like to get music not just firmly established, but to make it blossom and start getting people to think Niles when they think about music.”

While watching the orchestra grow has been rewarding, David said it hasn’t been without its challenges, especially since the orchestra is not-for-profit.

“If we were paying wages we might be able to turn the screws on players and tell them to practice more or you aren’t getting paid, but the idea is to get people to participate and to enjoy it and put a smile on their face while they are doing this,” he said. “You work with the players differently than you would a professional orchestra. They are here because they want to play and we don’t want to squelch that.”

To that end, the orchestra’s members range in age from 17 to 70 and in skill level from amateur to professional. While most are from Niles, David said they have had people from as far away as Goshen and New Carlisle, Indiana.

“We have a curious mixture, just about anyone you can imagine,” he said. “To me that’s one of the neater things about it. It is an activity that pulls in people from all ages. It is a great bridge builder.”

The orchestra is still looking for new members. David said they must have their own instruments and at least a high school musical skill level.

There are also plans, he said, to start an area community chorus.

“That is one other thing in music that can reach out and enrich people’s lives,” he said.

Those interested in learning more, or joining, can contact the Rumpfs by phone at (269) 362-5780 or by email at nacorchestra@yahoo.com.