About - PYO Music Institute
Our Mission

The PYO Music Institute uses extraordinary music education through the pursuit of music excellence to inspire a strong sense of character, discipline, commitment, and community for our diverse student population.

Character. Commitment. Discipline. Community.

PYO Music Institute is the tri-state region’s premier youth orchestra organization for gifted, young, classical musicians, and is one of the oldest and most highly regarded youth orchestra organiza­tions in the United States.

Our History

Since 1939, PYO Music Institute has been providing professional-caliber musical experiences to young instrumentalists, while thrilling audiences in the Greater Philadelphia region and across the globe.

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1939
Germantown Youth Orchestra is established
1948
Germantown Youth Orchestra becomes incorporated
1951
Organization is renamed to Youth Orchestra of Greater Philadelphia
1952
William Smith is appointed as Conductor of Youth Orchestra of Greater Philadelphia
1954
Joseph Primavera is appointed as Conductor and Music Director of Youth Orchestra of Greater Philadelphia
1961
Youth Orchestra of Greater Philadelphia begins its annual Distinguished Service Awards
1981
PYO makes its international debut in Australia
1982
Organization is renamed to Philadelphia Youth Orchestra
1995
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra relocates its home to Center City's historic Packard Building (317 N Broad St)
1995
Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra is established
1997
Louis Scaglione is appointed Conductor of PYAO and Associate Conductor of PYO
1999
Distinguished Service Award is renamed the Helen T. Carp Award. PYO moves to St. Patrick's Hall
2002
PYO performs Annual Festival Concert at The Kimmel Center for Performing Arts. Louis Scaglione is appointed Executive Director
2003
Bravo Brass is invited into the PYO organization
2005
Louis Scaglione is appointed CEO and Music Director of PYO
2007
Prysm Strings is established
2010
TUP - Orchestral Pathways Program is established
2014
PYO begins its annual Ovation Award
2015
PYAO debuts its annual Young Artists Concerto Competition
2016
Young Musicians Debut Orchestra
2017
PYO debuts Young Composer Competition. PMAY Artists' Initiative established
2020
PYO Organization is renamed to PYO Music Institute
Our Programs

The PYO Music Institute is comprised of seven divisions designed to develop a variety of specialized musical skills: the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO), Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO), Young Musicians Debut Orchestra (YMDO), Bravo Brass, Prysm Strings and Prysm Strings Young Artists, Pizzicato Players, and Tune Up Philly-Orchestral Pathways Program (TUP), an after-school El Sistema-inspired program.

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Our Team

The PYO Music Institute family is a large network of expert educators, dedicated administrators, and devoted board members. Together we support our young musicians and help model the excellence that is central to PYOMI’s guiding values.

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Our Community

PYO Music Institute prides itself on its strong partnerships with local school systems, music educators, and other community organizations.

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The PYO Music Institute is able to sustain its mission, values, and traditions with the generous support of patrons, corporations and foundations. Because of your support, we are able to make a significant impact on the next generation of leaders, musicians, and patrons of classical orchestral music.

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