6 Local Students Set to Perform Alongside BSO Musicians

Six highly talented students from South River and Southern high schools are slated to perform alongside the world-class musicians from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) in a special one-day concert on Thursday.

According to an Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) press release, the opportunity spawns from a long-standing collaboration between the school system and the BSO. In addition to the local musicians, 23 other students will participate in the special concert in front of their peers.

South River High has five musicians performing, ranging from violin to percussion. Southern has one student performing, the lone tuba player selected from AACPS, Tyler Easterday.

Over the last 28 years, the county and the renowned symphony orchestra have worked together to encourage and cultivate musical talent at local schools. Many of the students who participate in the partnership go on to be professional orchestral musicians and teachers themselves, AACPS said.

Known as the “Side-by-Side experience,” 29 county high school students will perform professional caliber music while receiving instruction from BSO musicians. After training and experiencing some top-notch musical education, the students then perform on Thursday on a world-class stage in front of about 2,200 of their high and middle school peers, according to AACPS.

Severna Park percussionist Tony Guarino will be specifically featured, as he received the top prize of performing a marimba solo along with the symphony.

“This Side-by-Side experience is a real-life experience unlike any other that can be provided to young musicians. To a person, they cite the BSO Side-by-Side experience as the highlight of their high school musical years,” said Amy Cohn, AACPS’ coordinator of music, in a press release.

The concert is open to musicians and students only, so no tickets are available, said AACPS spokesman Bob Mosier. However, here is a rundown of six South River and Southern high school musicians along with all 29 local students playing in the concert.

South River High

• Sarah Ellert – 1st Violin
• Dana Judy – 1st Violin
• Alexandra Bartlett – Viola
• Paige Berkebile – Violoncello
• Tony Fidyk – Percussion

Southern High

• Tyler Easterday – Tuba

Arundel High

• Jeremiah Quijote – 1st Clarinet

Broadneck High

• Anna Tayman – 2nd Violin
• Jeremy Peterson – 2nd Violin
• Melissa Paton – Viola
• Katie McCarthy – Violoncello
• Devon Baummer – Bass Viol
• Sara Cochran – 1st Flute
• Jeremy Lamb – French Horn
• Paul Pesnell – Trombone

Chesapeake High

• Stephanie Downing – Viola

Meade High

• Jessica Zhao – 1st Violin
• Porscha Silva – Viola

Old Mill High

• Katherine Smolen – 1st Violin

Severna Park High

• Allison Penna – 2nd Violin
• Carson Kirchner – 2nd Violin
• Norman Xiong – Violoncello
• Hunter Hensley – Violoncello
• Hayeon Lee – 2nd Flute
• Rohini Baheti – 2nd Clarinet
• Allyson Wesley – 1st Trumpet
• Greta Kintzley – French Horn
• Tony Guarino – Percussion (Marimba Soloist)
• Anna Dunlap – Harp