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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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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