Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Announces 2016-2017 Season Performances

The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) is one of the oldest and most highly regarded youth orchestra organizations in America and, as this season is launched, PYO marks the 20th Anniversary of Louis Scaglione, President and Music Director, who has led the organization's growth to great heights, introducing new ensembles and programs year after year.

PYO organization provides talented young musicians from across the tristate area with exceptional musical training and many opportunities to perform. There is a robust calendar of concerts throughout the year.

Scaglione is honored to be at the helm of PYO and proud of the growth and the dedication of the students, who are motivated to perform at the highest levels. "Many people are overwhelmed by the ability of our students," he said recently. "They are dedicated individuals and good young citizens, committed to the music and passionate about their learning. They thrive under the leadership of each of our respective program directors, who are some of the finest musicians and educators in the nation. The students work hard for each performance and are proud to stand by the side of their accomplished peers."

From November until June, audiences enjoy outstanding classical concerts that offer the talented young musicians invaluable opportunities to perform in professional venues. There is a full schedule of performances throughout the year, which are listed below. The opening concert, featuring the organization's flagship ensemble, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, is Sunday, November 20 at 3 p.m. in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts. Maestro Louis Scaglione will conduct and special guest violinist will be none other than The Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster David Kim. Tickets are $15-$25, and can be purchased through Ticket Philadelphia by calling 215.893.1999. For more information, please visit www.pyos.org.

PYO is comprised of six independent 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. 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 Jessica Villante. New in 2016-2-17 is Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO), directed and conducted by Kenneth Bean, a beginning to intermediate level full symphonic orchestra in which most students receive their first introduction to full large orchestral playing. 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.

CONCERT SCHEDULE:

Sunday, November 20, 2016 - 3:00 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Louis Scaglione, Conductor

David Kim, Violin

Barber Overture to The School for Scandal
Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor
Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade

Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Broad and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, Pa.

Tickets: $15 - $25

Ticket Philadelphia: 215.893.1999

Saturday, December 17, 2016 - 7:30 p.m.

BRAVO BRASS

Paul Bryan, Conductor

"Russian Christmas"

Music of Tchaikovsky, Ewald, and Britten

Church of the Holy Trinity
1904 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Tickets: $15 General Admission
Information: 215.545.0502

Sunday, December 18, 2016 - 3:00 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA
Rosalind Erwin, Conductor

Wagner Overture to Rienzi
Smetana The Moldau, from Má Vlast
Tchaikovsky Excerpts from The Nutcracker Suite
Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor

Temple Performing Arts Center
1837 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Information: 215.545.0502

Saturday, January 21, 2017 - 3:00 p.m.

TUP & PYMO

TUNE UP PHILLY
Paul Smith, Conductor

International Dances -- Exploring the world's most iconic and infectious rhythms

PHILADELPHIA YOUNG MUSICIANS ORCHESTRA
Kenneth Bean, Conductor

Rimsky-Korsakov / Dackow "Dance of the Tumblers"
J. Strauss / Meyer Radetsky March
Holst / Leidig "Jupiter" from The Planets

The Temple Performing Arts Center
1837 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Information: 215.545.0502

Saturday, February 4, 2017 - 3:00 p.m.

PRYSM

Gloria dePasquale, Conductor

PRYSM Young Artists
Andrea Weber, Conductor

J.S. Bach / Latham Brandenburg Concerto No. 3
Puccini Chrysanthemum
Grieg Holberg Suite
Bartók Selections from Romanian Folk Dances
Joplin / Zinn The Entertainer

Centennial Hall - The Haverford School
750 Lancaster Avenue, Haverford, Pa.
Tickets: $15 General Admission
Information: 215.545.0502

Sunday, February 12, 2017 - 3:00 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Louis Scaglione, Conductor

Shostakovich Symphony No. 1
Prokofiev Selections from Romeo and Juliet
Stravinsky Suite from The Firebird

Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Broad and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, Pa.
Tickets: $15 - $25
Ticket Philadelphia: 215.893.1999

Saturday, March 4, 2017 - 7:30 p.m.
BRAVO BRASS

Paul Bryan, Conductor
"Ye Olde Brass"

Music of the Renaissance featuring the works of Bull, Byrd, and Dowland

St. Mark's Church
1625 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Tickets: $15 General Admission
Information: 215.545.0502

Friday, March 10, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
2017 PYO Gala Dinner and Concert

PHILADELPHIA YOUTH ORCHESTRA
BRAVO BRASS
TUNE UP PHILLY

The Union League of Philadelphia
140 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Advanced reservations required

Sunday, March 12, 2017 - 3:00 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA

Rosalind Erwin, Conductor

J. Strauss Overture to Die Fledermaus
Borodin Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor
Dvo?ák Symphony No. 8

Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Broad and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, Pa.
Tickets: $10 - $20
Ticket Philadelphia: 215.893.1999

Sunday, March 26, 2017 - 3:00 p.m.

2017 PYO Showcase Performance

PHILADELPHIA YOUTH ORCHESTRA
PHILADELPHIA YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA
PHILADELPHIA YOUNG MUSICIANS ORCHESTRA
PRYSM & PRYSM YOUNG ARTISTS
BRAVO BRASS
TUNE UP PHILLY

Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Broad and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, Pa.
Tickets: $15 - $25
Ticket Philadelphia: 215.893.1999

Saturday, May 13, 2017 - 3:00 p.m.
PRYSM

10th Annual Festival Concert
Gloria dePasquale, Conductor
PRYSM Young Artists
Andrea Weber, Conductor

Tchaikovsky Selections from Souvenir de Florence
W.A. Mozart Eine kleine Nachtmusik
Bartók Selections from Romanian Folk Dances
Copland / Bulla "Hoedown" from Rodeo

Centennial Hall - The Haverford School
750 Lancaster Avenue, Haverford, Pa.
Tickets: $15 General Admission
Information: 215.545.0502

Saturday, May 13, 2017 - 7:30 p.m.
BRAVO BRASS

14th Annual Festival Concert
Paul Bryan, Conductor
"Brass on Stage"

Music of Bizet, Gershwin, and Wagner

St. Mark's Church
1625 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Tickets: $15 General Admission
Information: 215.545.0502

Sunday, May 21, 2017 - 3:00 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA

22nd Annual Festival Concert
Rosalind Erwin, Conductor
Young Artists Solo Competition Winner

Hoiby Overture to a Farce
Debussy "Nuages" & "Fêtes" from Nocturnes
Gershwin An American in Paris

Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Broad and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, Pa.
Tickets: $10 - $20
Ticket Philadelphia: 215.893.1999

Saturday, May 27, 2017 - 3:00 p.m.
TUNE UP PHILLY
7th Annual Festival Concert
Paul Smith, Conductor

Featuring selections arranged from the orchestral canon, as well as throwback soul tunes, and popular themes.

PHILADELPHIA YOUNG MUSICIANS ORCHESTRA
Inaugural Festival Concert
Kenneth Bean, Conductor

Gliere / Isaac "Russian Sailors Dance"
Offenbach / Meyer "Can Can"
Haydn Symphony No. 100

The Temple Performing Arts Center
1837 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Information: 215.545.0502

Sunday, June 4, 2017 - 3:00 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA YOUTH ORCHESTRA

77th Annual Festival Concert
4th Annual Ovation Award
Louis Scaglione, Conductor
Michael Ludwig, Violin
Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia
Philadelphia Boys Choir

World Premiere - Inaugural Young Composers Competition Winner
Glazunov Violin Concerto in A minor
Orff Carmina Burana

Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Broad and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, Pa.
Tickets: $15 - $25
Ticket Philadelphia: 215.893.1999