On March 4 the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) will be joined by seven LN students for their ISO Side-by-side concert. Each year the ISO offers high school students the opportunity to play alongside them. Senior Elio Seni has been selected to play violin. He is one of seven LN musicians awarded a spot in the concert following an audition process.

“[The audition] varies for instruments. There are around 15 violin spots. There are a lot of violinists so it is harder for violinists than it is for harpists who had only one person audition and there were two spots. It can definitely vary,” Seni said.

Students from all over Indiana travel to downtown Indianapolis in order to audition to be a part of the Side-by-side program. Seniors Zac Davidsen (trombone), Kennedy Douglas (percussion), Allison Henry (french horn) and Braeden Hicks (percussion), junior Quin Brown (cello) and sophomore Clara Brown (violin) were also awarded spots in the concert. Seniors Nolan Cardenas (clarinet) and Tyler Schmitt (trombone) were selected as alternates.

“The auditions were held at Hilbert Circle Theater on Monument Circle downtown. All of the practices and rehearsals for the concert are all at Hilbert Circle Theater where the ISO plays,” Seni said.

Seni said the ISO side-by-side audition was much like a college audition. He felt prepared going into the audition.

“Because I am already going into college I already had a lot of the repertoire up and going and prepared. It was more of a practice audition for my actual college auditions,” Seni said.

Seni has played with the ISO before. He feels grateful for the opportunity to perform with the group again this upcoming spring.

“I did [ISO Side-by-side] last year. I’m really glad that I get to do it again. It is a really nice and fun opportunity Indianapolis students get to have,” Seni said.