Students from the Lower 9th Ward String Orchestra play live in the WWOZ Studio.

For over 30 years WWOZ has put New Orleans music, past and present, on the airwaves. Now we are looking to the future by showcasing Nola's newest crop of young musicians. Together with Coventry Health Care of Louisiana, WWOZ is thrilled to present Cuttin' Class - a series of live in-studio performances by middle and high school age students from the Greater New Orleans area.

Each Cuttin' Class presentation brings young Nola musicians to the studio to give them the chance to perform on live radio. Our show hosts sit down with the band leaders to talk about the band, what it's like to be young musician, and about the music education opportunities in New Orleans. The future is in our hands, and we want to give it all the encouragement and support we can. The schools and organizations bringing bands to Cuttin' Class are doing just that: making sure that New Orleans music is a passed on down through the generations.

Please tune in, sit back, and be in awe of our city's musical heritage that has inspired such incredible music from such young folks. And get excited - because future is bright!

The  Ninth Ward String Orchestra: (front row) James Brown, Lori Champion, Peri Boudreaux, Tony Lamarks, Treveau Brown, chaperone (back row) Trenton Thomas, Kennedi Smith, Laura Patterson.

More photos from this episode of Cuttin' Class: