CEDAR FALLS - Philip Wharton didn't have to look far to find inspiration for his musical composition, "Passing Season."

The title is one of a collection of woodcut prints by his grandfather, Orville M. Running, professor emeritus of art at Decorah's Luther College. While "Passing Season" is not a musical imagining of the actual print, Wharton borrowed the title that best fit the music.

"He always came up with wonderful titles for his work. From middle school through high school, often I would help him print after school or on the weekend. I find that evocative titles invite the audience to more fully listen to music, especially new music," says the Iowa native.

Wharton's "Passing Season" and his talent as a violinist will be featured at the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony's chamber orchestra concert, "A Family Affair," at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Oster Regent Theatre. He also will be featured on Mozart's Concerto For Violin in B-Flat Major, K. 207, among other program offerings that include Bach and Wagner.

The woodcut prints by Running will be displayed at Cup of Joe, 102 Main St., today through next Sunday. Wharton and WCFSO Music Director Jason Weinberger will present a casual discussion of Wharton's work at 6 p.m. Friday at Cup of Joe.

"Philip writes music that's very accessible, listenable, but it's very serious. He's not trying to write music that panders to an audience, and audiences find his music very appealing, approachable and sophisticated," explains Weinberger.

Wharton is serving as the symphony's composer-in-residence and has been commissioned to write a new piece for chamber orchestra. "Less typical, and something you're going to see us do more often, is feature composers as performers, real musicians. Because he is in residence, we're able to extend the range of his activities with a variety of school programs, outreach to learning groups and general community outreach," Weinberger says.

A residency gives audiences a chance to meet a living composer of classical music, rather than only hearing music by dead composers.

During his week-long residency, Wharton will work with the Northern University High School orchestra, participate in an open rehearsal for the New Horizons group and retirees and possibly hold a master class at Coe College in Cedar Rapids.

A graduate of The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Wharton has toured with ensembles, including Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, and has created numerous commissions. The Iowa Arts Council and Dorian Opera Theatre jointly commissioned Wharton's children's opera, "And Out the Other Side," and he has written two short comic operas performed at Lincoln Center in New York City. He has worked with choreographers and singers on several projects, and the Grammy-nominated Borealis Winds premiered Wharton's quintet.

Wharton's residency is part of a broader effort, Weinberger notes. Collaborations allow the symphony to stretch its boundaries and create accessible events to reach new, vibrant audiences. "The hardest thing, as a small organization, is to find balance in offering traditional performances as well as creating different experiences."

In November, symphonygoers were thrilled by the collaboration with noted award-winning artist Gary Kelley to create a musical and visual allegory based on Gustav Holst's "The Planets." The Feb. 2 concert featuring flutist Claudia Anderson, "Shakespeare in Love," is in partnership with the College Hill Neighborhood Association, and Calle Sur, guests for the Feb. 17 family concert, will go into the schools. Schoolchildren also will be involved in the performance.

"We've been very excited about the results. Audiences, by and large, have been receptive. It's to our benefit to perform music by young composers like Philip, and to create experiences that are energizing for the audience. I think it demystifies some of the misconceptions people still have about symphonies," adds Weinberger.