Two Ensemble Programs of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra to Perform in Free Concert

Two ensemble programs of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) organization are performing in a free concert on Saturday, January 21 at 3 p.m. at the Temple Performing Arts Center, located at 1837 N. Broad Street in Philadelphia. The two ensembles are Tune Up Philly (TUP) and The Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO).

Tune Up Philly (TUP) is PYO's after-school program, directed by Paul Smith, that offers musical instruments and instruction to children in economically challenged areas of Philadelphia. There are 225 children now enrolled in this program. On January 21, Paul Smith will conduct the TUP Orchestra and their concert program theme is International Dances: Exploring the World's Most Iconic and Infectious Rhythms.

Smith is enthusiastic about these young musicians and said recently, "The members of Tune Up Philly have worked hard to prepare for this concert. They are excited to perform together and we know that this next step in their music education is important as they learn much more than music skills. They learn to be part of a team, listening to each other, taking cues from one another, adding their own contributions to the music as they play in a group setting. Performing at Temple University is a thrill for them and their families."

In addition to the TUP Orchestra, the newly added ensemble -- Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO) directed and conducted by Kenneth Bean -- will perform its inaugural concert. This expanded educational offering of PYO is a beginning to intermediate-level full symphonic orchestra that provides most students with their first introduction to large orchestral playing. PYMO will perform a varied symphonic program that will include Rimsky-Korsakov's "Dance of the Tumblers"; J. Strauss' Radetsky March and Holst's "Jupiter" from The Planets.

Bean shared his enthusiasm about this concert at Temple University and said, "This will be the first performance of PYMO and I am very proud of the growth of our students, especially as they prepare for this concert. The students are eagerly anticipating performing together in concert and showing everyone what they have learned."

For more information, please call 215-545-0502.

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.