Each year, more than 800 students enter PYO Music Institute ensembles with the dream of growing as musicians and citizens. Many come from families who could not otherwise afford this caliber of music education. PYOMI’s Endowed Chair Program opens doors for talented musicians, guiding them to the highest levels of our eleven ensembles while preparing them for success in college, careers, and a lifetime in the arts.
This initiative premiers in the 2025-2026 season with the PYO Music Institute’s flagship, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, where every principal, associate principal, assistant principal, and section leader carries great responsibility, visibility, and prestige. Through your support, you affirm the excellence of these students while providing them with the life-changing opportunity to study, rehearse, and perform at the highest level without financial burden.
Your support will provide the scaffolding to transform lives and strengthen communities. With recognition before an annual live audience of over 8,000 and social media and website exposure to a growing virtual community of over 12,000, your impact will resonate on the stage and far beyond.
How to Support ECP
Select your Chair: Select a specific chair in PYO on a first-come, first-served basis. Prestigious positions include Concertmaster, Principal Strings, and Section Leaders across winds, brass, percussion, harp, and keyboard.
Make your gift: Annual endowment gifts (over a minimum of five years) can be made via the link below. Sponsors who make a one-time gift totaling ten (10) years’ worth of endowment will receive endowed chair recognition for a “lifetime” or fifteen (15) years. Lifetime endowment gifts can be made by contacting PYOMI Development team via phone at 215.545.0502 or via email at development@pyomusic.org.
Receive recognition: Your sustaining endowment gift will be acknowledged in all concert program books, credited below the name of the student they support, and on PYOMI social media channels.
- Example:
Double Bass
William Smith, Principal
Tim Dilenschneider Chair
What our Donors think about the program
“As former PYO parents, we saw how transformative PYOMI was for our child—both as a young musician and in building his sense of character. When we thought about how to best honor Tim’s journey and success, endowing a chair for PYO’s Double Bassists felt like the perfect choice. The process was easy and thoughtfully guided by the team at PYO.”
— Kathy and Frank, PYO Alumni Parents and 5-year Endowed Chair Donors for the Tim Dilenschneider Chair, Contrabass
Contact Salvatore Parillo at SParillo@PYOMusic.org or call 215.545.0502 ext. 5 with any questions.