The Meadows World Music Ensemble will have nine performers in Thursday’s end of the year concert. (Courtesy of SMU)

The Meadows World Music Ensemble will be closing the semester with its biggest concert of the year.

This Thursday at 8 p.m. in Caruth Auditorium of the Owen Arts Center the talented student ensemble will perform with guest artist Mike Block, who is the cellist of Yo-Yo Ma’s “Silk Road Project.”

Director of the Meadows World Ensemble Jamal Mohamed, who will be participating in Thursday’s concert as well, is looking forward to Block’s solo in the second set of the performance.

“Mike Block will be bring his wonderful talents to the concert,” Mohamed said.

Block has played on popular programs and stations such as “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Regis and Kelly,” “CBS Early Show,” VH1 and NPR. Block has been working with the Meadows School and its students under a spring mini-residency.

“We will be playing music from a range of different cultures,” Mohamed said. “We will play authentic African instruments and music from the middle east, Japan and Bulgaria.”

The ensemble anticipates a great concert combining traditional folk songs and pieces composed themselves.”

The concert will be 90 minutes of enjoyable and free instrumental music.