NORWICH – After 36 years in the classroom – 24 of which were spent at the Perry Browne Elementary School – music teacher Dave Kirsch will direct his final spring concert at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The annual concert will be held outside the elementary school, weather permitting, and will feature performances by the Perry Browne Elementary String Players and Elementary Band, as well as the fourth and fifth grade choirs.

The decision to retire following the 2011 school year was a difficult one, according to Kirsch.

“I’m going to miss it terribly,” he said. “I just want to say thank you to Norwich. I was so lucky to come here. It’s been the perfect spot for me ever since I came here and I’ve loved it ever since.”

In over three decades, Kirsch has seen between 6,000 and 7,000 students walk through his door, the oldest of which are now nearly 50 years old. The youngest? Eight.