When he was in the fourth grade, Alex Platt told his parents he wanted to play the clarinet because it sounded “jazzy.”

“It’s an odd reason, but that’s the reason,” said Platt, now 18 and a senior at Burrell High School.

“But I stayed with it, and it’s a beautiful instrument. It’s more classical than jazz, but it’s beautiful.”

The clarinet has been good to Platt: He was selected to play side by side with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on Tuesday, April 9, at Heinz Hall.

“I was excited; it was a crazy thing,” Platt said of learning about his selection to perform with the PSO. “I didn’t really know what to say, what to think. This will probably be the biggest musical thing I’ve ever done.”

The student side-by-side program gives aspiring musicians the opportunity to rehearse and perform with PSO musicians, said Cally Jamis Vennare, spokeswoman for PSO. This year’s concert will include 54 students from 32 schools across 12 counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

“This experiential learning program invites students to immerse themselves in the world of professional music-making, learn about the orchestra industry, connect with peers and deepen their relationship with music,” Vennare said.

Students are selected through an application process where they share information about their past and current music ensemble experience, interest in participating in the program, future goals and what they hope to learn, Vennare said. Each application has a skills-based teacher recommendation that assesses music proficiency in areas such as rhythm, tone quality and articulation.

Since picking up the clarinet in fourth grade, Platt has excelled musically. He is a member of Burrell’s marching, concert and jazz bands. He also has been selected for Pennsylvania Music Educators Association district and regional band performances. In addition to clarinet, Platt also plays the electric bass and baritone saxophone.

Burrell music teacher Michael Pagnotta has taught Platt since he was 9 years old.

“As a musician, Alex is certainly one of the best around,” Pagnotta said. “He’s been accepted into numerous honors ensembles in Southwestern PA along with being selected to play with the PSO. He also plays several different instruments, sometimes just for the thrill of learning a new one.”

For the past two years, Platt has taught music lessons at Burrell’s Stewart Elementary School.

“It’s a great learning experience,” Platt said. “It’s quite literally made me better at my instrument. It’s made me better as a musician.”

Pagnotta said it’s rewarding to watch Platt work with the next group of musicians in the Burrell band program.

“He has always been interested in getting better at his instrument and improving the musicianship of others around him,” Pagnotta said. “Very few students show such impressive patience when working with their peers trying to help them improve.”

Platt also is successful in athletics. He runs track and cross country and currently holds the 5K record for cross country at Burrell.

Following graduation, Platt will attend the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg to major in music composition. He already has composed a piece, “The Grinch Stole Christmas,” which was performed by Burrell’s elementary school band during its Christmas concert this winter.

“He used his knowledge from working with the students last year to write something they would enjoy learning and performing,” Pagnotta said. “They loved it, as did the audience.”

Platt also is conducting a song, “The Rite of the Mountain King,” to be performed by Burrell High School’s concert band this spring.

“I like making stories with music,” Platt said. “All in all, it’s really fun. I don’t enjoy many things like this.”

When he writes a song, Platt often runs it through a computer system to hear what it sounds like flawlessly.

“But to hear real people play it, it’s amazing,” he said. “It’s incredible.”

Pagnotta believes Platt has the capability and drive to become a composer.

“I look forward to playing his future pieces in my ensembles — or maybe seeing his name show up in a movie or video game soundtrack in the future,” Pagnotta said.

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