Junior Katja Vassilev and freshman Molly McCarthy from Albuquerque Academy, New Mexico, have a friendship as tight as their violin strings.

“The fun and passion in music has definitely brought us together,” Vassilev said. “We’ve always wanted to do a duet.”

McCarthy has played violin for nine years, while Vassilev has played for 12.

“I love how playing music makes you feel it so much more than when you’re listening,” McCarthy said.

The violinists played J.S. Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins, a nearly five-minute song they learned in elementary school. Although each studied the piece with a private teacher, they have only rehearsed together twice.

“We’re still confident in our familiarity with the song,” McCarthy said. “There’s not really anything to worry about.”

After a 12-hour bus ride, the musicians had to adapt to a new environment.

“The extreme humidity traps the sound in our strings,” Vassilev said. “We never expected weather to affect our ability to play.”

The girls played their piece for the Albuquerque Academy Solo and Ensemble at 7:50 a.m. Saturday in LS116, and for their school’s dance performance 11 a.m. Friday in the Lowe Theater.