It was a sight much more common at UK basketball games than classical music concerts: a person holding an "I need tickets" sign.

But that's what Cutter Daniel had to resort to get a seat at Saturday's University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra concert. The 1,500-seat Singletary Center for the Arts was sold out because of the guest soloist: violin legend Itzhak Perlman.

"I had been in Europe, so I couldn't get tickets," said Daniel, a UK grad and former orchestra member. "So, I did what I could do." It worked, he managed to buy a ticket and get inside to see something that amazed many, Perlman playing with a student orchestra.

"If the orchestra plays well, why not? The important thing really is any activity that an artist has with students is extremely important, " said Perlman, backstage after performing Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. After posing for pictures with excited student musicians during intermission, Perlman gave the orchestra a good review.

"They are playing very, very well," Perlman said. "And not only do they play very well, but they listened. At rehearsal, I made a few remarks, and they caught it very quickly."