Kevin Klein of Perry Hall is the only cellist studying at the Community College of Baltimore County Essex.

This worked to the 18-year-old's advantage when Pi Theta Eta, the school's music association, approached him about participating in a holiday album. In collaboration with more than a dozen other musicians, the finished compilation of classic carols, "Pi Theta Eta Does Christmas," was announced by CCBC officials this week.

Klein, who began playing cello in the fourth grade, accompanies "What Child is This?" and "O Holy Night." Both are available for digital download or on an eight-track CD.

He said that the process of recording just two songs took more than five hours, but his hard work paid off.

"I like music because it's so rewarding," he said. "You work on a piece the first time and it doesn't sound good. Then you work on it for a while and you get a beautiful result."

Klein said he plans on eventually transferring to Towson University to study music education.