Tune Up Philly Presents First Concert This Month

Tune Up Philly (TUP), the community engagement program of Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO), directed by Paul Smith, presents its first concert of the season on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 1 p.m. The young musicians will celebrate traditional dances and folk melodies in this program. This unique opportunity brings together art and culture to showcase the student's talents. The show will take place at The Temple Performing Arts Center, located at 1837 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. This is a free event. For more information, please call 215-545-0502.

TUP Director and Conductor Paul Smith explained the purpose of TUP. He said, "We focus on creating and inspiring true community by providing children in under-resourced areas with invaluable opportunities to learn and perform a differentiated orchestral music curriculum. Our students are committed to making their families proud of their accomplishments, and I know they will be."

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.

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.