Phila. Youth Orchestra Announces 2018 Showcase Performance

The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) is one of the most respected community music education and youth orchestra performance programs in the United States, and on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 3 p.m., all the student musicians will share the stage in the annual PYO SHOWCASE PERFORMANCE. Being held in Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center, it will be hosted by Jim Donovan, CBS 3's co-anchor of Eyewitness News This Morning and Eyewitness News at Noon, who will introduce each of the six ensembles within PYO who will perform their own concert. Tickets range from $20 to $30 and can be purchased through Ticket Philadelphia at 215.893.1999

President and PYO Music Director Louis Scaglione is proud to present the students at each year's Showcase. He said, "I am continually impressed with the dedication our musicians have for classical music and seeing each of our ensembles perform brings great pride to our directors, who work tirelessly with them through the year, the parents and families and the students themselves. With nearly 500 students, aged 6 to 21, there is a range of talent and music specialties we present." PYO students go on to excel in many diverse fields, including 10 alumni who are currently members of the prestigious Philadelphia Orchestra.

Here is the music program and description of each PYO ensemble in the order of the presentation:

• PHILADELPHIA YOUNG MUSICIANS ORCHESTRA (PYMO)
  Kenneth Bean, Conductor
  Program: Stravinsky / Isaac: "Berceuse & Finale" from The Firebird
  • PYMO 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
• PHILADELPHIA REGION YOUTH STRING MUSIC (PRYSM)
  Gloria dePasquale, PRYSM Conductor
  Andrea Weber, PRYSM Young Artists Conductor
  Program: Telemann / Mathews: Sinfonia in A Minor

Handel / Paradise: Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 1
Grieg: Two Norwegian Airs

• • PRYSM AND PRYSM Young Artists ensembles provide string large ensemble and sectional master class instruction for beginning and intermediate musicians ages 6-14.
• PHILADELPHIA YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA (PYAO)
  Rosalind Erwin, Conductor
  Program: Liszt: Les Preludes
  • PYAO is led by Director and Conductor Maestra Rosalind Erwin, who is Music Director and Conductor of Drexel University Orchestra Young musicians. The musicians are aged 12-18 years old in this group, which is PYO's companion ensemble.
• TUNE UP PHILLY (TUP)
  Paul Smith, Conductor

Program: Verdi / Morelli: "La Donna é Mobile" from Rigoletto

Piazzolla / Smith: Libertango

Wonder / Moy / Cosby: My Cherie Amor

Desmond / Smith: Take 5

• • 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.

• BRAVO BRASS
  Paul Bryan, Conductor
  Program: J.S. Bach / Allen: Fantasia in C Major

J.S. Bach / Allen: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

J. S. Bach / Allen: Contrapunctus IX

• • Bravo Brass is conducted by their director Paul Bryan, who Dean of Faculty and Students at Curtis Institute of Music. Bravo Brass is an all brass ensemble for promising middle and high-school instrumentalists.
• PHILADELPHIA YOUTH ORCHESTRA (PYO)
  Louis Scaglione, Conductor

Program: Bernstein: Overture to Candide

Ravel: La Valse

• • PYO, conducted by President and Music Director Louis Scaglione, is the most advanced level of the PYO organization and features 120 gifted instrumentalists who range in age from 14-21.

About Jim Donovan:

Jim Donovan is co-anchor with Rahel Solomon of CBS 3's Eyewitness News This Morning the station's popular morning newscast (weekdays, 4:30-7 a.m.), and Eyewitness News at Noon.

The 15-time Emmy Award-winner joined CBS 3 as its "On Your Side" consumer reporter in 2004. In April 2016, he stepped up to the anchor desk to relaunch the station's morning newscast, after distinguishing himself with his memorable coverage of Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia in 2015. Jim's on-air duties still include the consumer beat where he and his team continue to resolve thousands of consumer-related complaints from viewers in the Delaware Valley. Their work has earned accolades from numerous organizations from the Better Business Bureau to the Associated Press.

Active in the community, he volunteers his time to numerous local charities including MANNA, CARIE and the Mazzoni Center. In 2015 he was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia's Hall of Fame in recognition of his body of work and community service.

About Philadelphia Youth Orchestra:

Now in its 78th year of training tomorrow's leaders, the renowned Philadelphia Youth Orchestra organization 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. For more information, please visit www.pyos.org.