Ontario High School junior’s journey from small-town band room to the state’s biggest stage

ONTARIO — Every musician remembers their first note — for Ontario junior, Eliana Fittante, it was on an instrument most fifth-graders can barely coax a sound from.

Years later, that same oboe has carried her from her fifth-grade band room to the All-State Orchestra stage.

Fittante makes Ohio’s top student orchestra

15-year-old Fittante has been selected for the All-State Orchestra, a top honor recognizing the state’s most talented high school musicians.

“This is my first year in the orchestra specifically,” she said. “Last year, I had the wonderful opportunity of playing oboe and English horn in the All-State Band at the Ohio Music Education Assocation (OMEA) conference.”

The OMEA conference draws the best young performers from across the state each year. Thousands audition, but only a select few are chosen to perform.

For Fittante, she said the accomplishment means more than just making the cut — it’s about showing what dedication and small-town talent can do.

“My biggest goal as a musician is to represent my school and my area through performance,” she said. “It proves that music can come from anywhere, at any time and is not limited to just the larger schools in the Cleveland or Columbus area.”

Early success fuels music journey

Fittante’s journey began in the fifth grade, when the band director at the time, Sean DeLong, hosted instrument try-outs.

“I cycled through the flute and the French horn before the oboe caught my eye,” she said. “The reed and mouthpiece are very unique and most people struggle with it, yet I was able to produce a sound rather easily.”

That early success — and a teacher’s impressed comment — sparked something competitive in her, she said.

“He told me it was impressive for my age, which I took as a challenge,” Fittante said with a laugh. “I realize now how rare it is for any program to have an oboist start that young.”

Since then, the oboe has been her constant companion.

“My favorite part of playing is always having a constant goal of making music and improving,” she said. “There’s always something new, and it never really gets boring.”

A full circle musical journey

Fittante’s talent quickly carried her beyond her school’s music program. She joined the Mansfield Symphony Youth Orchestra (MSYO) after hearing about it from local families, now entering her fifth year with the ensemble.

“When I joined there was only one other oboe in the group, but she graduated before my freshman year,” she said. “It’s always a joy to return from summer break and see the returning members, but I also enjoy meeting the new ones.”

Under the direction of Stephen Domka, Fittante has grown up with the MSYO community. The group’s annual side-by-side performance with the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra has become a personal highlight.

“I absolutely love working with their principal oboist, Adrian Gonzalez,” she said. “I always love to hear him play and learn from him during our brief rehearsal period.”

Her first side-by-side experience came in eighth grade. She performed a short piece, skipping Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 was too difficult at the time.

She returned to Cleveland years later and performed the Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, a moment she described as full-circle showing just how far she had come.

“It’s about keeping classical music alive and thriving”

In eighth grade, her private teacher, Carol Bernhardt, suggested she audition for the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO).

“I was thrilled when I got the email that I had been accepted,” Fittante said. “It truly means so much to play alongside musicians of the same passion and skill level. The repertoire has really opened my eyes to how rich orchestral music can be.”

That opportunity led to another milestone this past January. After earning second place in COYO’s concerto contest, Fittante performed the Bellini Oboe Concerto at the group’s annual MLK concert — this time as the featured soloist.

“A concerto is a piece written to feature solo instruments while the orchestra accompanies,” she explained. “My accompanist, Deb Logan, and I performed the piece for a panel of judges. I was granted the opportunity to perform it with the full orchestra in front of the audience.”

For Fittante, being part of multiple ensembles isn’t just about building her résumé — it’s about keeping classical music alive and thriving.

“The most important part of my involvement with so many ensembles is to prove that music isn’t a dying art,” she said. “It can be a whole way of life if you give it enough dedication.”

Years of rehearsals, long drives and late nights have taught her lessons that extend far beyond the stage.

“Practicing can be just as time-consuming and grueling as the schedule of any committed athlete,” she said. “It’s shown me that no matter how much you work, there’s always room to improve. And sometimes we fail, but it’s important to endure and persevere.”

Advice for younger musicians

Fittante said she knows what it’s like to be the young kid trying something new — and she has simple advice for those who might want to follow her path.

“Always stick with it, no matter what anyone says,” she said. “Music will always return the energy you put into it. You can’t do it for anyone else, only yourself.”

She recalled a favorite piece of advice from one of her mentors, oboist Jaren Atherholt:
“Remember, the point is the music — it’s something greater than us. It is beautiful and wonderful.”

“I know classical music isn’t everyone’s forte — music puns,” she joked. “But genuinely, any support and visibility is what allows us to make these programs possible.”

Her message to the community is simple — show up.

“Please, always show up for your children and the youth of the community,” she said. “Support them even when you don’t understand, because having anyone in our corner helps music flourish.”