Senior Robbie Raso was nominated by the band director, Mr. Keith Kovalic, to perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra through the “Side-by-Side” program. Through the “Side-by-Side” program, high schoolers who are nominated and accepted will perform a concert sitting alongside those players from Pittsburgh.

“It is a lovely opportunity for him [Raso] to be selected and wear a tux while performing at Heinz Hall with some of the best players in Pittsburgh,” Kovalic said.

“It means a lot and it is a huge honor to be one of the few selected to play with the Orchestra,” Raso said. Raso applied online at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s website, where applicants were selected based on their merit and honors earned in music.

The repertoire of the music will be determined by what level the students are able to play at. Participants will receive the music in the mail and be expected to prepare the repertoire for the four rehearsals and the concert. Schools participating are local schools within the Pittsburgh area. The concert will be held at Heinz Hall on April 28 at 7 pm.

“If there are 20 or 30 peers that would support Raso and buy a ticket, I would buy a bus and ship them up there [Heinz Hall], Kovalic said.

Kovalic first heard about the “Side-by-Side” program whenever his son, who attended South Side, was one of the few chosen from his school to participate.

“It was a remarkable evening when I got the chance to watch my son go through this and perform with the Orchestra,” Kovalic said.

Throughout high school, Raso has participated in County Band, and at Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) festivals like Honors Band, where 52 schools participate, District Band, Regional Band, where he took first chair and State band. Although he was unable to attend due to the musical being on the same weekend. This is completely different from the PMEA District 5 programs that FHS is used to hearing about. The “Side-by-Side” program requires an online application; a lot of honor and merit from the music department is praised.

“Raso’s technique and musical abilities have gotten him where he is today; he is a phenomenal player for only being in high school,” Kovalic said.