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Holiday Benefit Concert Raises $4,000 for The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia's Early Literacy Program
PYO’s Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra, The Choral Society of Montgomery County and the Upper Darby High School Encore Singers drew hundreds to raise thousands for Reach Out and Read at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA – January 19, 2011. (Download PDF) The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) today announced a holiday concert from PYO’s Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra, The Choral Society of Montgomery County and the Upper Darby High School Encore Singers on December 21, 2010 at Saint Mark’s Church in Philadelphia raised $4,000 to benefit Reach Out and Read at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
“This concert is special each year because it is a wonderful mix of holiday music and generosity,” said Trude Haecker, M.D., Medical Director, Quality Improvement and Departmental Patient Safety Officer, CHOP Care Network. “Reach Out and Read is a national school readiness program that prepares America's youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. We are grateful to PYO, The Choral Society of Montgomery County and the Upper Darby High School Encore Singers for their support.” Dr. Haecker is also the Chair of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra’s Board of Trustees.
“Our organizations are delighted to participate in this annual fundraiser for The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Reach Out and Read Program because we raise thousands of dollars to support this important early literacy program,” said Maestro Louis Scaglione, President and Music Director of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) and Artistic Director of The Choral Society of Montgomery County (CSMC), in residence at Montgomery County Community College. “We are grateful to St. Mark’s Church and all who attended.”
The Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra’s Geoff McDonald conducted performances of Handel’s Zadok the Priest, Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 1, The King Shall Rejoice with other songs and carols of the season to hundreds of audience members.
About the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra: Founded in 1939, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra is one of the nation’s oldest classical music training and orchestra performance programs for gifted and talented students from the Tri-State region. Lead by Maestro Louis Scaglione, PYO’s companion ensembles include the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO), formed in 1996; Bravo Brass, added to the program in 2003; Philadelphia Region Youth String Music (PRYSM) created in 2007; and the Musicopia String Orchestra partnership, which began in 2008. Young musicians from ages six through 21 are selected by competition audition and have represented the United States on five continents. The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) offers classical musical performances to the Greater Philadelphia region each year and supports musical education to children from Philadelphia’s more challenging neighborhoods through its newest after-school program launched in 2010, Tune Up Philly.
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