The revival mission was a success - now a group of Illawarra string players are treading the path of musical expansion.

First up for the Steel City Strings is a concert more than a year in the making and which has excited musical director Kyle Little immensely.

"When we got back together last year, the thing I really wanted most was to create a more diverse program. Saturday's concert delivers," Little says.

Little is talking about Steel City Strings concert on Saturday at Wollongong Art Gallery, which will feature Australian folk-rock singer Rebecca Moore.

"It has been my hope as the musical director to try and bring together musicians of various styles to maybe create something that has not yet been heard before," Little says.

"Rebecca is an award-winning songwriter and performer who will be performing several of her songs off her new album, Return.

"Composer and arranger John Spence has also donated his time to arrange music for the string orchestra that complements Rebecca's songs."

This will be the Steel City Strings' second gig this year, after a successful show in Bowral last Sunday.

But it was only last October that Steel City Strings returned to the stage after more than a 10-year hiatus.

Fortunately the ensemble's revival performance, the first since the Steel City Strings was born in 2002, was the start of better things to come - much to the pleasure of Little.

Initially formed to fill the gap left by the demise of the Wollongong Symphony Orchestra, the group offers the region's string players the chance to perform together.

Members comprised both professional and talented amateur players who donated their time for a variety of concerts around the Illawarra and South Coast.

"The vision of our orchestra is to bring quality music to the Illawarra and Shoalhaven area and feature Australian composers and artists," Little says.

The aim is also to nurture talented young Illawarra musicians.

Little, who teaches violin at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music, as well as music at Campbelltown Performing Arts High School, says there is a real influx of children wanting to learn a string instrument.

"There's definitely people still learning to play and kids still wanting to play," he says.

"I don't think we'll ever need to worry about not having players for our ensemble."

He says Saturday's concert starts at 7pm and features works by Respighi, Piazzolla, Borodin, Brahms and Australian composer (and member of the orchestra) Michael Barkl.

Steel City Strings' talented cellists Karella Mitchell and Ilir Merxhushi will also play Vivaldi's Two Cello Concerto in G minor.

"This concert features everything from folk-rock to tangos and classical. It is a once-in-a-lifetime concert event that should not be missed," Little says.

Tickets cost $25/$20 and can be purchased at the door or online at trybooking.com/HIBM.