Five Trinity High School students are managing to play hard ball and soft music at the same time.

Such a mix is unusual in South Hills high schools, said the boys' orchestra director and their football coach.

Junior Jay Murphy, an offensive lineman for the Trinity Hillers, is as good at blocking an opposing player as he is at playing pizzicato on his violin. Sophomore Brandon Robertson, a linebacker and tight end, is as adept at bowing the double bass as he is at catching a pass. Senior Joey Havrilak thinks he runs with the ball as well as he plays vibrato on his violin, said their coach, Ed Dalton.

The three musicians join fellow teammates, junior Christopher Piatt (wide receiver, bass player) and senior Christopher Bombash (linebacker, fullback and bass player) as members of Trinity's football team and the school's orchestra.

Orchestra director John McCarthy said of the quintet: "I'm very glad to have footballers play, and especially those who play bass, because it takes a lot of strength to press down hard on the strings to play the notes and hold upright a 25- to 30-pound bass for a 40-minute concert."

"We think of ourselves as the linebackers of the orchestra," Christopher Piatt said.

All five have played football since middle school, and, in addition to their studies, practice 40 minutes each morning in orchestra class and two hours on the field during football season.

"You can't just pick up a football or a musical instrument and expect to be good," Joey said. "You have to practice, practice, practice."

In the summer, the boys admit they put aside their instruments and gear up for the gridiron season, attending summer camp and conditioning. In the summer, Brandon also plays baseball, and Jay lifts weights.

All five find that football and music seem to complement one another.

"We definitely get an adrenaline rush on the football field, but orchestra rehearsal helps us relax," Christopher Piatt said. "Both activities require a team effort. ... ."

The orchestra generally performs four concerts a year with a varied repertoire that this year includes classical pieces by Haydn and Mozart, film themes such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and Van Morrison's jazz-tinged "Moondance."

The orchestra's next appearance is 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at school.

In their leisure time, the five admit a preference for listening to classic rock and watching sports on television, but said their live music outings have been rather limited.

Christopher Piatt recently attended a RatDog concert in Munhall and a Pittsburgh Pops performance at Heinz Hall, and Jay and both Chrises attended "The Nutcracker" in Pittsburgh during the Christmas season.

They boys said Coach Dalton and Mr. McCarthy have very different teaching methods.

"Mr. McCarthy is much more laid back, but can really come on strong when he needs to," Joey said.

"Likewise, when Mr. Dalton yells at you, you better do what he says," said Brandon, who also is in the school's string quartet.

Once, when the string ensemble visited the elementary school, Brandon was wearing his football jersey. "The kids were really impressed," Mr. McCarthy said. "He's a really good role model for them."

Fortunately, none of the footballers incurred injuries this year, but Jay sat out two games in the 2008-2009 season with a torn labrum inflicted during one of the games. "The injury didn't affect my playing in the orchestra, but it still hurts from time to time," he said.

Brandon suffered a mishap in orchestra practice. As he bent over to tie a shoestring, he asked another young musician to hold his bass. When it slipped out of her hand, it fell on his head and cut him.

"Overall, I think the time the students put into their music and the playing field is commendable," Mr. McCarthy said. "The students are ... exceptionally goal-oriented."

The district's acting superintendent, R. Tim Marks, said the five students "underscore our philosophy to have strong programs in academics, sports and the arts."

When they were not in the orchestra pit, the boys helped the Hillers finish 4-6 this season. The team plays in the Class AAA Big Seven Conference.

First Published: November 25, 2009, 11:15 a.m.