LITTLETON —Edgar Girtain said there are three elements of a musical community: the audience, the performers and the composers.

“And the huge problem with classical music is all the composers are dead, so where does the music come from?” Girtain said.

It’s part of an effort to bring youthfulness and new music into the organization, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last season.

“One of the things that the orchestra has not done as much of in the past is new music and world premieres,” said Devin Patrick Hughes, the organization’s third music director and conductor. 

“As orchestras are trying to attract new audiences … one of the things that makes music so exciting to new concert-goers is new pieces,” added Hughes.

“I think people have been saying classical music is dying for the past 100 years, but it’s not like that at all,” Hughes said. “It’s an incredibly vibrant art form. We go into schools and give free tickets for any kid who’s a music student to come into the concert.”