Now in its seventh decade, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) is one of the oldest and most highly regarded youth orchestras in the United States, providing professional–caliber musical experiences to gifted young instrumentalists and thrilling discriminating audiences in greater Philadelphia and around the world for more than 70 years. Its companion ensemble, the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO), was established in 1996 under a grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts. In 2003, the PYO and PYAO ensembles were joined by Bravo Brass, an advanced brass instrument program. In 2007, the PYO program created PRYSM, Philadelphia Region Youth String Music. In 2008, the PYO program welcomed Musicopia String Orchestra (MSO) in partnership with Musicopia. In the fall of 2010, PYO launched its newest program – Tune Up Philly. Ranging in age from 6 through 21 years, the musicians of the PYO, PYAO, Bravo Brass, PRYSM and MSO are selected by competitive audition and come from a seventy-plus-mile radius of Philadelphia encompassing nearly 20 counties within Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The six ensembles present a full season of concerts each year.
Widely regarded as one of the world's foremost youth ensembles, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra has performed in more than twenty countries on five continents. Fourteen international concert tours since 1981 have offered hundreds of talented young musicians the opportunity to perform in many of the world's great concert halls, where their performances have often been judged comparable to those of professional orchestras. Through advanced orchestra repertoire, students are challenged to perform at professional levels, to strive for advanced musicianship, and to achieve superior technical, musical and personal application. Former PYO musicians currently hold chairs in most of the top twenty professional orchestras in the United States, with 15 PYO alumni currently serving in The Philadelphia Orchestra alone.
The Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra has become one of the premiere youth orchestras in the greater Philadelphia region. Through standard orchestra repertoire, instruction emphasizes the development of musicianship and large–ensemble performance skills. The PYAO performs each season at such distinguished venues as The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts; The Union League of Philadelphia; Montgomery County Community College (Pennsylvania); and Saint Mark's Church (Philadelphia). Each year, the PYAO engages in community and charitable work. For the past 12 years, many performances have helped raise funds for such Philadelphia–area charitable organizations as Reach Out and Read at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Youth Work Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia.
Bravo Brass is the brass ensemble of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, created in 1996 to provide advanced musical education and performance opportunities for talented and accomplished high–school–age brass players in the Delaware Valley region. Ranging in age from 12 to 21 and chosen by auditions held annually in June, the members of Bravo Brass improve their individual and ensemble playing skills, experience important pieces in the brass ensemble repertoire, and have the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the Resident Faculty Brass Ensemble. Bravo Brass thus provides valuable musical training and experience, particularly for young brass players who hope to pursue musical study at the college level and, perhaps, beyond.
PRYSM, Philadelphia Region Youth String Music, is a string music education program, with a comprehensive system providing string ensemble and sectional master class instruction for students of the Tri–County community and the Greater Philadelphia area who believe that music excellence is an essential discipline for the development of the whole individual. Students, ranging in age from 6 – 17 years, partake in a sequenced, disciplined and organized music education program with related activities designed to develop the whole individual.
Musiciopia String Orchestra is an inclusive ensemble, serving students throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. This ensemble has a high ratio of music staff to students and is a welcoming home to students whose skill levels range widely.
Tune Up Philly’s mission is to nurture children in challenging social and economic conditions by keeping them engaged in success through weekday out–of–school hours music instruction. Tun euP Philly believes that music education is a powerful vehicle for children to master skills that will enable them to acquire valuable tools for cooperative learning, teamwork, academic success and self-esteem.
Extraordinary artistic leadership is a hallmark of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra program. Adolph Sorian (1940-1941), J.W.F. Leman (1941-1952), William R. Smith (1952-1954), and Joseph Primavera (1954 – 2005) served as Music Directors, with Maestro Primavera having had the extraordinary distinction of being the longest–serving active conductor of any orchestra in the world. Maestro Louis Scaglione was appointed PYO’s Music Director in 2005. He joined the artistic staff in 1997 as Conductor of the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra. He was appointed Associate Conductor of PYO in 1999. In addition to his work as a member of the artistic staff, Maestro Scaglione was appointed President of the PYO program in 2004, having served as the program's Executive Director for three years.
The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Center, located in historic Saint Patrick Hall at 20th and Locust streets in Philadelphia, hosts open rehearsals of the two orchestras and the brass ensemble: the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra on Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and Bravo Brass on Mondays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. MSO on Tuesdays from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 21st and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia. PRYSM rehearsals are held at The Hill Top Preparatory School, Rosemont, Pa., Friday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. If you would like to make a contribution, please visit our donation page.