The Saint Louis University Cancer Center is joining forces with an unlikely ally.

“A Summer Evening of Music,” a concert and reception on Thursday, Sept. 10 from 5 to 6 p.m., will be held at the SLU Cancer Center, featuring a performance by the string quartet from the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. The two are hoping to explore the therapeutic possibilities of music for cancer patients with their new partnership.

“This performance is a gift from the Symphony to the patients, students and staff of the Cancer Centers,” said Marc Thayer, vice president for Education and Community Partnership for the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.

All SLU students and staff are encouraged to show support by attending this event.

“This is a free event to come and really just enjoy wonderful music,” said Kathleen Britain Luther, Director of Development at the Cancer Center. “We’re inviting anyone from the SLU community including the students, patients, faculty members, staff, doctors and administrators.”

There will also be free parking provided at the surface lot just west of the Cancer Center as well as free valet service.

Though only members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will be performing, members of SLU’s string ensemble will be in attendance as well.

“This event is an example of the kind of concerts that the SLU string ensemble will be playing,” said Luther. “It’s really a great chance to come down, meet Mark, learn about the Cancer Center and about the partnership we have going,” said Luther.

Eventually, the ensemble is hoping to play at a number of venues with the Symphony.

“We are starting at with the Cancer Center but we’re hoping to eventually perform at the Saint Louis University hospital as well as the Children’s hospital,” said Thayer.

Thayer and Luther also agree that this is a chance for those who missed “No Strings Attached,” the first event of the newly expanded string ensemble, to talk to and witness what the ensemble will be like as well as discuss possibly joining the SLU string ensemble.

For more information about the SLU Cancer Center, visit cancercenter.slu.edu.

The SLU Cancer Center is located at 3655 Vista Ave. at the West Pavilion of SLU Hospital.

More information about the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra can be found at www.slso.org.