Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Announces 2018-2019 Season Auditions

Auditions for Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO), one of the nation's most respected youth orchestra institutions, will take place between May 20 and June 9, 2018. Young and skilled wind, string, brass, percussion and harp players ages 6 to 21 will have the opportunity to earn membership in these unique program divisions: the flagship Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO), Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO), Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO), Bravo Brass, and Philadelphia Region Youth String Music (PRYSM). Training tomorrow's leaders, the 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 Spring Auditions will take place in Center City Philadelphia at Saint Patrick Hall (240 S. 20th Street). 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.

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Here is the schedule:

Philadelphia Region Youth String Music (PRYSM) Conducted Philadelphia Orchestra cellist Gloria DePasquale
String musicians (ages 6-14)
Friday, June 8, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bryn Mawr College

Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO), ages 14 - 21, Conducted by Maestro Louis Scaglione

Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO), ages 10 - 18, Conducted by Maestra Rosalind Erwin

Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO), ages 10 - 17, Conducted by Kenneth Bean

String, brass, wind, harp and percussion players
Sunday, May 20, 1 to 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 2, 1 to 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 3, 1 to 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 9, 1 to 6 p.m. at Saint Patrick Hall

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Bravo Brass Conducted by Curtis Institute of Music's Paul Bryan
Brass players (ages 12-21)
Monday, June 4, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Saint Patrick Hall?

PYO President and Music Director Louis Scaglione is thrilled with the continued interest in PYO ensembles. He said, "We look forward to the audition season as this is when new members are welcomed into the PYO organization. PYO students, in all ensembles, have potential to become the musicians of the future and community leaders of tomorrow, as well as audience members and benefactors of the arts. We are pleased to work with students who are disciplined in their practice and are motivated to excel in all aspects of their continuing education. After graduating high school, many of our students enroll in the country's finest colleges, universities, 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.

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.

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.