facebook
twitter
linkedin
As the 2024–2025 season and our 85th Anniversary Celebration come to a close, we are filled with immense pride and joy as we congratulate the PYO Music Institute Class of 2025 on their remarkable achievements. This exceptional group of students has demonstrated tremendous talent, perseverance, and dedication to both their musical and academic pursuits.
We are delighted to share that 71 of our graduating seniors have submitted college plans, and they will be attending more than 40 colleges, universities, and conservatories across the country this fall. Their next steps represent a diverse range of paths—from world-class music conservatories to Ivy League institutions and leading research universities—reflecting the incredible depth of their accomplishments.
This year, approximately 14% of our graduates will be attending Ivy League schools, and more than 28% have committed to enrolling in prestigious music schools and conservatories, including The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Peabody Institute, Manhattan School of Music, and more. We are also proud to celebrate the many students who will continue their journeys at Philadelphia-area institutions, such as Temple University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Haverford College, continuing to make an impact close to home.
This milestone is a testament not only to the hard work of our students but also to the transformative power of music education. Through their time at the PYO Music Institute, these young artists have cultivated not only exceptional musicianship but also resilience, leadership, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts. We are confident that the Class of 2025 will continue to inspire and uplift their communities in all they pursue.
To our graduates: we celebrate you. As you embark on this exciting new chapter, know that your PYOMI family is cheering you on every step of the way. We hope you continue to keep music in your lives and use your talents to create meaningful change in the world.
Congratulations to the PYO Music Institute Class of 2025!
Your future is bright, and your impact will be lasting
Listing complete as of May 27, 2025
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO)
Hannah Adams, Violin, Princeton University
Brahin Ahmaddiya, Clarinet, Oberlin Conservatory
Eva Rosa Anderson, Harp, DePaul University
Samantha Bedenko, Flute, Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music
Blair Blake, Bassoon, Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Institute
Evan Bretz, French Horn
Zachary Epstein, Double Bass, College of William & Mary
Victoria Fan, Violin, University of Pennsylvania
Matthew Fang, Violin, Carnegie Mellon University
Varun Gaddam, Violin, University of Maryland College Park
Therese Gasser, Violin
Liam Gately, Violin, Florida Institute of Technology
Tanav Gowda, Viola, Vanderbilt University
Karlis Graufelds, Viola, Cleveland Institute of Music
Steven Guard, Flute, Temple University
Luke Halpern, Double Bass, Brown University
Nicholas Hartman, Violin, Case Western University
Christina Htay, Oboe, Stanford University
Elise Hwang, Violin, Vanderbilt University
Hayden Kang, Cello, Stanford University
Frederick Kercy, Trumpet, Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Institute
Jianna Kim, Flute, University of Pennsylvania
Charles Krieg, French Horn, Bard College Conservatory
Heather Lee, Violin
Zimo Liu, Trumpet
Julio Martin-Navas, Cello, Manhattan School of Music
Zakyya McClenny, Clarinet, Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Institute
Ariel Metzger, Percussion, Manhattan School of Music
Son Nguyen, Cello, Case Western Reserve University
Liliana Ortiz, Oboe, Eastman School of Music
Shinnyom David Park, Viola, Columbia University
Miro Raj, Violin, Harvard University
Brandon Rashid, Cello, Rutgers University
Chris Reeh, Violin, Marist University
Daniella Roh, Violin
Cyrano Jett Rosentrater, Violin, Juilliard Conservatory
Heinrich Rutenkroger, Tuba, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Micah Sommons, Double Bass, University of Southern California
Vidhyuth Sriram, Violin, Georgia Institute of Technology
Xavier Thornton, Oboe
Jessica Wang, Cello, Brown University
Lauren Wu, Violin, Rice University
Jacob Wurst, Violin
Jason Xi, Bassoon, Haverford College
Edmund Xie, Bassoon
Jennifer Yang, Violin, University of Pennsylvania
Kevin Zhu, Clarinet, University of Virginia
Keegan Zicko, Flute, Eastman School of Music
Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO)
Fiona Abraham, Violin, Carnegie Mellon University
David Ding, Violin, Stanford University
Kenneth Felton III, Percussion, University of Delaware
Rachel Fu, Clarinet, University of Pennsylvania
Keith Holmes, Tuba, University of Maryland
Isabelle Mingo, Cello, Temple University
Emmett Morison, Percussion, Temple University
Lyev Pitram, Violin, University of Pennsylvania
Kayla Tabares, Trumpet, University of Maryland
Elias Todd, Viola, Bates College
Sofia Vazquez, Cello, University of Michigan
Mira Wang, Clarinet, New York University
Cynthia Wu, Violin, Cornell University
Bravo Brass
Frederick Kercy, Trumpet, Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Institute
Lorali Minde, Tuba, Temple University
Eleanor Nagle, French Horn, Rochester Institute of Technology
Philadelphia Youth Symphonic Band (PYSB)
Claudia Fisicaro, Clarinet, Rutgers University
Charles Krieg, French Horn, Bard College Conservatory
Heinrich Rutenkroger, Tuba, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Elizabeth Sevrukov, Flute, College of William and Mary
Josiah White, Trumpet, University of Pittsburgh
Ronin Wilson, Saxophone
Philadelphia Youth Jazz Orchestra (PYJO)
Annabelle Dugan, Percussion, Temple University
Leonardo Dugan, Saxophone, Temple University
Sam Fenning, Trumpet
Sarah Harris, Saxophone, Temple University
Henry Koban Payne, Trombone, Temple University
James White, Double Bass
