Lawton student chosen for All-State Orchestra

MacArthur High School junior Nicolas Raso was chosen to perform in the 2024 Oklahoma Music Educators Association’s All-State Orchestra. He is one of four percussionists in the orchestra.

“I see the name on the results and I’m like, ‘This can’t be real,’” Raso said. “I look again and I’m like ‘Okay, it’s real’ … I knew it would take a lot, and I’ve been practicing a lot.”

Only 20 percussionists from all Oklahoma high schools were chosen to perform in OkMEA’s three ensembles. All-State takes place in January at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center’s Chapman Music Hall in Tulsa.

Raso said the audition process was competitive.

“When you get into that finals room, you’re going against the best in the state,” he said. “If you mess up one single time, your chances are diminished.”

Raso is the first percussionist in more than a decade to attend All-State from MHS. Outside of rehearsing with MHS and Cameron University bands and working a part-time job, he practices several additional hours each week on his own time.

“I play the mallet instruments, like marimba, bells, xylophone, and vibraphone” he said. “I’ve played auxiliary percussion, so, anything like sleigh bells, cowbell, all sorts of instruments. When people say ‘percussion,’ it’s like, ‘oh, you play drums,’ and I’m like ‘No, not necessarily. It’s pretty much a little bit of everything.’”

Raso said playing music is something he loves to do, and he gets to “create bonds that are never going away” through performing with others. Ever since he began playing in the fifth grade, he said he’s heard inspiring performances and hopes to share that feeling with audiences.

“I remember from the SWOSU Band Camp that the director said, ‘music is ineffable,’” Raso said. “It’s something I live by because music is truly too great to be described in words, which is why everyone should at least listen to music, an amazing form of art.”