Eliza Rizk, a sixth grader at Shady Side Academy Middle School, has been named to the prestigious Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra (PYSO) for the 2023-2024 season.

Rizk, a cellist, will join three other SSA student musicians on the PYSO roster: junior harpist Sophia Jho, junior violinist Sadie Navid and sophomore cellist Sarah Voigt, all of whom played with the PYSO in 2022-2023.

The PYSO is one of the oldest and most advanced youth orchestras in the country. It is comprised of 90-100 musicians ages 14-20 and utilizes conductors and coaches from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The PYSO performs several concerts each year at Heinz Hall and other venues around Pittsburgh, and is broadcast regularly on WQED-FM radio. Learn more about the PYSO.

Congratulations to Eliza on this tremendous musical accomplishment!