Five Shady Side Academy Senior School students spent a portion of their summer touring Greece as part of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra (PYSO). For two weeks in June, seniors Joanna B. and Caden Z., junior Allison G., and sophomores Eliza R. and Rebecca D. played for enthusiastic and welcoming Greek audiences in Thessaloniki, Kavala, Volos, and Athens. These concerts included the once-in-a-lifetime experience of performing in the Ancient Theater of Philippi, a stunning open-air amphitheater commissioned by the father of Alexander the Great. There, PYSO performed a piece by Greek composer Athanasios Stogiannidis in collaboration with the European Choir of the Kavala Music School. 

“It was such an honor to be able to play sold-out concerts at some of the most important concert venues in the country,” said Eliza R. 

The students’ participation in PYSO is one example of how Shady Side students pursue their interests beyond the classroom, seeking out opportunities to deepen their skills and broaden their experiences. 

“I also loved traveling together with other youth musicians from schools all over Pittsburgh,” Eliza added. “We rehearse together all year, but this trip allowed us to really spend time together in a beautiful place.”