By PAM HARBAUGH

Brevard Symphony Orchestra conductor and music director Christopher Confessore always likes to mix it up. And he’s going to do just that this evening when the BSO presents the season’s final concert — one that explores how folk music can inform symphonic music.

The concert begins with Johannes Brahms’ “Academic Festival Overture,” which he wrote after receiving an honorary doctorate. You can’t be too sure about his opinion regarding this gesture, because he based his composition on student drinking songs.

No intermission tonight. The program swings right into American folk music’s influence on the work of Charles Ives when Maestro Confessore brings acclaimed American folk musician Bobby Horton to the stage.

Mr. Horton will use banjo and guitar in a lively talk about the composer’s use of folk tunes and church hymns in his Second Symphony. You may note motifs from Brahms, Beethoven and Wagner in that symphony as well.

As the Maestro wrote in a letter to subscribers: “Bobby is a wonderfully versatile folk musician and historian and a captivating storyteller. You’ll love his presentation!”

Traditionally, the BSO begins each concert with “The Star Spangled Banner” during which the audience stands and sings. Tonight’s opening will be the final installment of the BSO’s year-long celebration of the national anthem’s 200th anniversary. As such, the BSO will perform the world premiere of Rick Mizell’s composition written especially for this program.

The concert begins 8 p.m. tonight, April 18, at the King Center for the Performing Arts, 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Tickets are to . Call 321-242-2219 or visit www.kingcenter.com or www.brevardsymphony.com.