Now, Here's A Chance To Really Show Your Stuff!

Auditions for Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO), one of the nation’s most respected youth orchestra institutions, will take place between September 9 and 12, 2016. Young and talented wind, string, brass, percussion and harp players ages 6 to 21 will have the opportunity to obtain membership in these unique program divisions: the flagship Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO), Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO), Bravo Brass, Philadelphia Region Youth String Music (PRYSM) and the Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO). Training tomorrow’s leaders, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra organization engages young musicians from the tri-state region in pursuing musical excellence through learning responsibility, discipline, and character skills that enable students to build future success.

The PYO, PYAO, PYMO, and Bravo Brass Fall Auditions will take place in Center City Philadelphia at St. Patrick's Church Hall (240 S. 20thStreet). PRYSM Auditions will take place at Bryn Mawr College (101 N. Merion Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA). All auditions are by appointment only. For online registration, audition requirements for each ensemble, and additional information, visit www.PYOS.org. For questions about registration, contact the office at info@pyos.org or
215-545-0502.

Here is the schedule:

Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) Conducted by Maestro Louis Scaglione — String, brass, wind, harp and percussion players (ages 14–21) — Saturday, September 10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, September 11, 1 to 5 p.m. at St. Patrick's Church Hall

Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO) Conducted by Maestra Rosalind Erwin — String, brass, wind, harp and percussion players (ages 12–18) — Saturday, September 10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, September 11, 1 to 5 p.m. at St. Patrick's Church Hall

Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO) Conducted by Maestro Kenny Bean – String, Wind, brass and percussion players (ages 10–17) -- Saturday, September 10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, September 11, 1 to 5 p.m. at St. Patrick's Church Hall

Bravo Brass Conducted by Curtis Institute of Music’s Paul Bryan — Brass players (ages 12–21) — Monday, September 12, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., St. Patrick Church Hall


Philadelphia Region Youth String Music (PRYSM) Conducted by The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Gloria DePasquale — String musicians (ages 6–14) — Friday, September 9, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Bryn Mawr College

PYO President and Music Director Louis Scaglione is impressed by the expanded interest in PYO ensembles and looks forward to PYMO bringing additional opportunities to the students. He talked about PYO and said, “We take great pride in the fact that our students have the opportunity to become the musicians of the future and community leaders of tomorrow, as well as audience members and benefactors of the arts. The confidence our students develop and their motivation to excel during their tenure with us is evident in their subsequent enrollment in the country’s finest colleges and conservatories.”

Since 1939, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra has offered superior instruction and performance opportunities to students selected through a competitive audition process. Young instrumentalists ages 6–21 are prepared to master large ensemble repertoire and are given the opportunity to perform in some of the most prestigious venues throughout the region.

About the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra: 
Entering its 77th year, the renowned Philadelphia Youth Orchestra organization, led by President and Music Director, Maestro Louis Scaglione, is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected community music education and youth orchestra performance programs, providing talented young musicians from across the tri-state area with exceptional musical training. 

Students go on to excel in many diverse fields, and it is with pride that Philadelphia Youth Orchestra notes that many members of the prestigious Philadelphia Orchestra are alumni. The organization is comprised of six program ensembles designed to meet specific needs and experience levels of students selected through a competitive audition process. The anchor group is the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO), conducted by President and Music Director Louis Scaglione, featuring 125 gifted instrumentalists who range in age from 14-21. 

Young musicians 12-18 years old are featured in PYO’s companion ensemble, the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra, which is led by Director and Conductor Maestra Rosalind Erwin, who is Music Director and Conductor of Drexel University Orchestra. Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO), directed by Maestro Kenneth Bean, is a beginning to intermediate-level full symphonic orchestra that provides most students with their first introduction to large orchestral playing featuring students age 10-17 years old. Bravo Brass, directed by Curtis Institute Dean of Faculty and Students, Paul Bryan, is an all brass ensemble for promising middle and high-school instrumentalists. PRYSM(Philadelphia Region Youth String Music) and PRYSM Young Artists ensembles provide string large ensemble and sectional master class instruction for beginning and intermediate musicians ages 6-14. 

The director and conductor of PRYSM is Gloria DePasquale, cellist with The Philadelphia Orchestra, and conductor of PRSYM Young Artists is Andrea Weber. Tune Up Philly (TUP) is PYO’s engagement program, directed by Paul Smith, that focuses on the creating and inspiring true community by providing children in underserved communities with invaluable opportunities to learn and perform a differentiated orchestral music curriculum. www.pyos.org.