Listen to recorded concerts of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) on WRTI. Maestro Louis Scaglione conducts. The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra is a premier youth orchestra organization for gifted, young, classical musicians, and one of the oldest and most highly regarded youth orchestra organizations in the United States. Founded in 1940, the PYO provides professional-caliber musical experiences to young instrumentalists, thrilling discriminating audiences in the Greater Philadelphia region and across the globe.
The organization has six program divisions: Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO), Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO), Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO), Bravo Brass, Philadelphia Region Youth String Music (PRYSM), and Tune Up Philly, an El Sistema inspired after-school program.
Ranging in age from 6 to 21 years, the musicians of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra organization are selected by competitive audition and come from a 70-plus mile radius of Philadelphia encompassing nearly 20 counties within Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. 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.
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Meet clarinetist Zakyya McClenny, a graduating senior from the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, who will attend the Peabody Institute in the fall as a music education major. -
Meet double bassist Luke Halpern, a senior at Friends' Central School and Principal Double Bassist of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. -
Meet 16-year-old violinist Danae Truxler, a member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Temple Music Prep Center for Gifted Young Musicians' Youth Chamber Orchestra, and a Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY) Artist. -
Meet harpist Maya Lindsey, a student at the Curtis Institute of Music, who got her start on the instrument with the Lyra Society. -
Meet 14-year-old percussionist Sydney Charlene Vance, a member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Philadelphia Youth Symphonic Band, and a Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY) Artist. -
Meet 16-year-old oboist Liliana Ortiz, a member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Settlement Music School's Advanced Wind Quintet, and a Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY) Artist. -
Meet hornist Evan Bretz, a section leader in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and a mechanical engineering student at Rowan University. -
This week in Fanfare: the Curtis Symphony Orchestra plays two world premieres, and Yannick leads his other hometown ensemble. -
Featured in Fanfare this week: the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, organist Nicole Keller, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and more. -
Meet Katie Neary, an 18-year-old jazz saxophonist and a first-year jazz studies performance student at Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University.
