PERRYSBURG — Shortly after Rob Myak started playing cello, his teacher took him to hear the
Toledo Symphony.That concert, the Perrysburg High School senior said, inspired him to take his music
studies more seriously.On Friday, the results of that study will be on display when he will be featured
as a soloist with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra in a 7:30 p.m. performance at Blessed John XXIII
Catholic Community. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Call (419) 874-6502.Myak will perform “Song of the
Birds” by Pablo Casals.Myak said he’s soloing with the symphony at the recommendation ofMichael Puppos,
pastoral associate for Music and Liturgy at BlessedJohn.Puppos explained: “I felt like it would be a
great opportunity for him,and to showcase some of the talent we have in our parish.”Myak’s talent has
blossomed since he attended that concert seven yearsago. He now studies with David Alan Harrell, of the
Cleveland Orchestra,and performs with the Cleveland Youth Orchestra. He’s principal cellistwith the
Toledo Youth Symphony. He won that ensemble’s concertocompetition as well as two Toledo Symphony League
scholarships. He wasthe runner-up in the Cleveland Cello Society Competition.Myak said he was excited to
be playing with “the first orchestra I everheard.” The experience represents “coming full circle” for
him.Achieving at that level takes hard work, and Myak expects it to pay offwhen he heads to Notre Dame
University next year, even though he willnot major in music.Myak, the son of Gayle and Robert Myak, will
major in biochemistry. Hesaid he wasn’t particularly interested in science and math until hisjunior year
when he took an AP chemistry course. The teacher, KimLayden, made him see “how much of another world it
is and how importantit is to society. … She spoke of how many different ways it couldbranch off into
other fields.”Myak plans to continue to study cello. “I’m going to practice everyday,” he said If
nothing else it can help relieve that stress and serveas “an outlet for expression … it is nice to
have something likethat.“I have a deep love for cello. … I always want to keep it in my lifeas a
passion.” Still, he said, “to pursue it as a career choice wasn’t aviable option.”The discipline
developed in studying music has other benefits. “In musicI have to practice really hard,” Myak said. “I
have to aim forperfection even if I don’t attain it. … I’ve taken that practice roomphilosophy into
other areas.”The piece he will perform is a setting of a traditional Catalan song by legendary cellist
Casals.The orchestra’s program will also include opera and dance music byGioachino Rossini, Johann
Strauss, Arthur Honegger, as well as music byJohn Williams from the “Star Trek” films and “Jurassic
Park.”Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Call the parish office at (419) 874-6502.
