Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Announces Auditions For 2017-18 Season

The nationally acclaimed Philadelphia Youth Orchestra organization is holding auditions for the 2017-2018 concert season that will recruit student musicians for five of its program ensembles. They will be held on various dates between May 11 and June 16, 2017. (See schedule below.) There are opportunities for young musicians beginning at age six and going up to age 21. The ensembles are the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO), which ranges in age from 14 to 21 year olds, Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO) ages 12 to 18 and Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO) for students who are 10 to 17. In addition, there is Bravo Brass for students aged 12 to 21 and two age groups for Philadelphia Region Youth String Music (PRYSM) that range from age six to 14. Auditions are open to string, wind, brass, percussion and harp students.

There is great potential for PYO student musicians, many of whom have been selected for national youth orchestra experiences and scholarship opportunities. Alumni of PYO have gone on to great successes in the field of music and in other industries. As one example, there are 10 alumni who are members of The Philadelphia Orchestra. A student in the PYO organization is fortunate to study under the direction of the finest conductors in the region, to rehearse and perform with peers who are serious students of classical music and to perform in the most prestigious concert halls in the Philadelphia area including Verizon Hall and Perelman Theater in the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. The inclusion of PYO on a student's resume is another great advantage as college recruiters are always impressed by the type of discipline necessary for serious music students.

Maestro Louis Scaglione, President and Music Director of PYO, looks forward to auditions each year as new students are discovered and ongoing students return. He said, "We are very proud of the accomplishments of our students, who demonstrate a keen motivation to grow and learn. These students go onto excel in many fields as they continue their education and develop careers. The discipline from participation in music programs has many benefits beyond their musical aspirations."

To audition, interested musicians must complete an online registration form found on the PYO website, which also includes audition requirements specific to each instrument. Auditions are by appointment only. For more information, please contact the PYO office at info@pyos.org or 215.545.0502.

Audition Schedules and Information:

Philadelphia Youth Orchestra

Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra

Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra

Auditions are open to string, woodwind, brass, percussion, harp and keyboard musicians from 10 through 21 years of age.

Advance registration is required.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

5:30 p.m. - 9p.m.

Friday, May 12, 2017

5:30 p.m. - 9p.m.

Saturday, June 3, 2017

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday, June 10, 2017

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday, June 11, 2017

1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Bravo Brass

Auditions are open to Brass, Percussion musicians from 12 through 21 years of age.

Advance registration is required.

Monday, June 5, 2017

5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

PRYSM & PRYSM Young Artists

Auditions are open to student string players from 6 through 17 years of age.

Advance registration is required.

Friday, June 16, 2017

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Location: Bryn Mawr College

101 North Merion Avenue

Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

About the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra:

Now in its 77th year, training tomorrow's leaders, 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 120 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 PRYSM Young Artists is Andrea Weber. Tune Up Philly (TUP) is PYO's engagement program, directed by Paul Smith, that focuses on creating and inspiring true community by providing children in under-resourced communities with invaluable opportunities to learn and perform a differentiated orchestral music curriculum. www.pyos.org.