LOGAN — Two high school musicians from Cache Valley took center stage with the Utah Symphony this week, joining professional musicians for a one-night-only performance at Abravanel Hall as part of the Symphony’s prestigious 2024-25 Side-by-Side Concert.
Drew Paiser, a junior at Ridgeline High School, and Aaron Yoder, a senior at Mountain Crest High School, were selected from a competitive pool of 113 applicants statewide. Only 34 students were chosen to participate in the annual program, which gives junior and senior high school musicians a chance to rehearse and perform alongside the Utah Symphony.
The concert took place on Tuesday, May 20 under the direction of Assistant Conductor Jessica Rivero Altarriba. In addition to four full rehearsals, students received personalized sectional coaching from Utah Symphony musicians.
“After four rehearsals, these students [joined] Utah Symphony side-by-side for an inspiring performance,” said Jessica Wiley, Symphony Education Manager for the Utah Symphony in a release.
Paiser, who plays double bass, was introduced to music in the fourth grade after a visit from the Mountain West Strings Academy to his elementary school. According to a Cache County School District release, he chose the bass because “it was kind of different from the others,” he said.
Now, he embraces both the challenges of solo performance and the shared experience of orchestral collaboration. “It gives me passion and excitement in life,” Paiser added.
Yoder, a tuba player with six years of experience, is known for his dedication—often practicing during his unscheduled first period, at lunch, and after school. “Music is the best method for communication that humans have access to,” Yoder said in a release. He plans to study tuba performance at the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio and hopes to pursue a career in music.
The Side-by-Side Concert is part of the Utah Symphony’s ongoing effort to support young musicians and foster music education across the state.