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Bayer "Audience of the Future" Project

Over the course of the school year, this award-winning program invites local high school students to plan and implement a Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concert. Once a month, students visit Heinz Hall to attend PSO rehearsals, determine program repertoire, promote the concert, sell tickets, work concert production, and produce a documentation video. Students are coached by Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra staff members, and proceeds from the concert benefit the arts and music programs of the participating schools.

For more information about this program, send e-mail to the Education and Community Engagement Department or call 412-392-4870.


Side-by-Side Concert

>> Click here for a Side-by-Side Application

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce that the 16th annual Student Side-By-Side event will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at Heinz Hall. This event gives aspiring young musicians the unique opportunity to rehearse and perform “Side-By-Side” their Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra counterparts on the Heinz Hall stage. This year the Side-By-Side concert will again be combined with another project for high school audiences: the Bayer “Audience of the Future” program. The repertoire to be performed at this year’s event is as follows:

  • Nabucco Overture – Verdi
  • Carmen: Suite No. 2 – Bizet

The Side-By-Side performance will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 7:30pm with a dress rehearsal on that same day under the baton of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Resident Conductor Daniel Meyer. Additional rehearsals and coaching sessions will be held at Heinz Hall from 6:30pm to 8:30pm on the following dates:

  • Sunday, March 30, 2008
  • Tuesday, April 8, 2008
  • Monday, April 14, 2008
  • Sunday, April 20, 2008

Participants will be selected for the Side-By-Side event based on responses from their completed applications, with particular emphasis placed on the recommendation section. Due to increased interest in this event, students may also be asked to audition. If necessary, auditions will take place in February 2008. Applications will only be accepted from students in grades 9-12 who are also members of their school instrumental ensembles. Students who are chosen to participate must be available in the afternoon on Tuesday, April 22, 2007 as well as for the rehearsals prior to the concert.

The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, December 21, 2007. Please adhere to the following guidelines in completing the application(s):

  • No applications can be considered for bass clarinet, saxophone, baritone, or piano.
  • Flute applicants should state their instrument as Flute/Piccolo only if they wish to be considered for the piccolo position.
  • Oboe applicants should state their instrument as Oboe/English horn only if they wish to be considered for the English horn position.
  • Percussion applicants must indicate one or more of the following categories: Timpani; Mallets; Snare/Bass Drum; and/or Auxiliary. Percussionists will be required to bring their own sticks and mallets.
  • All participants will be required to bring their own instruments and mutes; the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra cannot provide instruments, except to percussionists.

For more information regarding the Side-By-Side event, please call the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Education and Community Engagement Department at (412) 392-4870.

>> Click here for a Side-by-Side Application

Deadline for submitting applications is Friday, December 21, 2007.