Louis Scaglione, Music Director
Gloria dePasquale, Artistic Advisor & Principal Faculty
PYOMI’s Advanced Orchestra Training Program provides advanced training in orchestral playing techniques, instrumental techniques, and musicianship. This training program includes regular Master Classes for members of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra, and Young Musicians Debut Orchestra on symphonic orchestral repertoire. Sectional master classes are held regularly to raise student awareness of the highest professional performing standards, provide idiomatic instruction, and provide students with the tools and environment to foster performing success. This training program also includes special guest artist engagements for other senior divisions of the PYOMI including Bravo Brass, Philadelphia Youth Symphonic Band, and the Philadelphia Youth Jazz Orchestra.
PYOMI engages master teachers, mostly drawn from the membership of The Philadelphia Orchestra, who lead master classes by setting the highest levels of performance expectations. Additional instructors and master teachers are also drawn from the memberships of the following professional orchestras: The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia; Opera Philadelphia; Philadelphia Ballet; the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, as well as other professional orchestras from throughout the region.
Expectations of Student Musicians
- Students are always expected to arrive prepared, knowing the music to be rehearsed.
- Students are expected to listen to recordings of the repertoire on their own time.
- Students are expected to be ready to work as an ensemble and strive as a team member to achieve exceptional musical goals.
- Students are expected to arrive already having addressed individual technical difficulties with their private teachers and/or the faculty coaches.
- Students are expected to attend rehearsals faithfully and understand that after two absences he/she may be asked to privately play his/her part for the conductor and/or faculty. Failure to perform to the expectations of the conductor and/or faculty may result in a reassignment of seating or distribution of parts (winds, brass, and percussion).
- Students understand that their progress will be carefully monitored by the conductor and faculty.
- Students will be expected to show improvement after specific instruction.
Faculty Expectations
- Faculty will be a resource for the students to gain the tools and help to provide the nurturing and inspiration necessary for students to reach musical goals.
- Continual emphasis by faculty on “raising the bar” of ensemble and individual performance.
- The faculty will provide opportunities for more individualized instruction with emphasis on professional orchestral expectations.
- The faculty will expect students to show improvement after specific instruction, and will expect each student, as an ensemble musician, to achieve exceptional musical goals.
- The faculty will identify the tools and teach the skills necessary to be successful as an orchestra musician.
- The faculty will carefully monitor each student’s progress and report the same to the conductor.
- The faculty will strive to ensure that each student receives exceptional training in order to elevate the PYOMI’s status as an exceptional training and performing institution.