Summer Winds, Brass, Percussion Session

The PYO Music Institute Summer Winds, Brass, Percussion Session is a week-long summer day camp for developing wind, brass, and percussion students.  

Philadelphia Summer Jazz Academy

The PYO Music Institute Philadelphia Summer Jazz Academy is a week-long summer day camp open to wind (saxophone), brass (trumpet, trombone, tuba), and rhythm section (drum set, vibraphone, guitar, piano, bass) students ages 14 through 21.  

Summer String Session

The PYO Music Institute Summer String Session offers an enriching musical experience for beginning through advanced-level students.

Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO)

Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, having been presented on tour in over twenty countries, is one of the most well-recognized youth orchestra programs in the nation. It provides the region’s most advanced classical instrumental music students with unparalleled training and performance opportunities with world-renowned soloists under the direction of Maestro Louis Scaglione, one of the leading youth orchestra conductors in the country. In addition to the opportunity to showcase their talents through high-profile radio broad­casts on WRTI FM and live performances in Verizon Hall of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, members learn character-building life skills and supplement their collegiate and conservatory applications, making them strong candidates for acceptance into the most prestigious universities and conservatories around the world.

Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO)

Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra challenges students through sophisticated symphonic repertoire and musical discipline, is under the director of Maestra Rosalind Erwin. PYAO further provides the opportunity to rehearse standard orchestral repertoire with a highly experienced professional conductor; to work with master teachers in sectional rehearsals; to participate in a concerto competition; and to perform in high-profile professional venues throughout the greater Philadelphia region, including The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.  Ms. Erwin, a graduate of the New School of Music and Temple University, studied conducting with Ricardo Muti, Leonard Slatkin, and David Zinman. She was previously Music Director of the Pottstown Symphony and is currently Music Director and Conductor of the Drexel University Orchestra.

Young Musicians Debut Orchestra (YMDO)

Young Musicians Debut Orchestra, formerly Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra, is a beginning to intermediate-level full symphonic orchestra that provides most students with their first introduction to large orchestral playing. Through a challenging repertoire including both arrangements and original masterworks, students are challenged to hone their talents for listening, blending, balancing, and making music within the full orchestral context. YMDO prepares its members for participation in Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra — and, eventually, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. Maestro Kenneth Bean is the director and conductor of YMDO and is also Conductor of the Junior String Philharmonic of the Lehigh Valley and Symphony in C Youth Orchestra, and Associate Director of the Primavera Fund.

Bravo Brass

Bravo Brass, the only year-round brass ensemble in the Philadelphia area under the direction of Paul Bryan, offers the highest level of individual and ensemble training opportunities for the most accomplished young brass musicians in the area. In addition to the opportunity to showcase their talents through multiple live performances throughout the year, members have distinguished themselves and gained acceptance to some of the most competitive and prestigious institutions for music and higher learning around the globe. Maestro Bryan serves as Dean at the Curtis Institute of Music. An accomplished trombonist and teacher, he also holds positions as Music Director of Symphony in C’s Summer Symphony Camp and Head Conductor of the Young Artist Summer Program at Curtis.

Prysm Strings – Main Line

Prysm Strings, is a string music education program created in 2007 to offer a unique introduction and preparation for string students to acquire and build skills. Prysm Strings – Main Line includes Prysm Prep (beginning), Prysm Strings Young Artists (intermediate), and Prysm Strings (advanced). This program division provides string ensemble and instrumental sectional rehearsals hosted in the Parish House of the Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr. Graduates of Prysm Strings have matriculated successfully into other PYO Music Institute ensembles. Co-founded by the late William dePasquale, Co-Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Prysm Strings is directed by Co-founding Director, Gloria dePasquale, cellist Philadelphia Orchestra (1977-2022).

Prysm Strings – New Jersey

Prysm Strings is a string music education program created in 2007 to offer a unique introduction to large ensemble experience and concentrated preparation for string students to acquire and build musical, ensemble, and interpersonal skills. Graduates of Prysm Strings have matriculated successfully into other PYO Music Institute ensembles. Prysm Strings was co-founded by the late William dePasquale, Co-Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and Gloria dePasquale, former cellist (1977-2022) of The Philadelphia Orchestra.   

Prysm Strings NJ, a new program division of the Institute, is the New Jersey division of Prysm Strings.  Prysm Strings provides string ensemble and instrumental sectional rehearsals hosted at the Katz Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Cherry Hill, NJ.  Prysm Strings NJ is directed and conducted by Michael Ludwig, former Associate Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra and international violin solo artist, and managed by Rachael Ludwig, violinist and Founding Artistic Director of the Stella Schaevitz Concert Series at the Katz JCC.  

Philadelphia Youth Symphonic Band

The Philadelphia Youth Symphonic Band (PYSB) provides advanced instrumental music students access to training, musical and personal development, and performance opportunities through professional-level wind band repertoire. PYSB provides the opportunity to work with highly experienced professional conductors, musicians, and teachers; to rehearse professional-level wind band repertoire; and to perform in high-profile professional venues throughout the greater Philadelphia region. Maestro Patrick Bailey, Director and Conductor of the PYSB, currently serves as Director & Conductor of the Drexel University Concert Band program and is a tenured faculty member in the Pennsbury School District’s internationally recognized instrumental music program.

Philadelphia Youth Concert Band

The Philadelphia Youth Concert Band (PYCB), a new program division of the Institute, provides committed, developing instrumental music students access to a high-performing concert band experience. The focus is on cultivating individual musicianship and playing technique within the context of a large ensemble. Through weekly rehearsals and regular sectionals, PYCB provides the opportunity to work side-by-side with highly experienced conductors, musicians, and teachers; to rehearse leveled wind band repertoire; and to perform in high-profile professional venues throughout the greater Philadelphia region. 

Philadelphia Youth Jazz Orchestra

The Philadelphia Youth Jazz Orchestra (PYJO) creates a unique opportunity for students to explore the origins of the American contribution to the sonic history of the world. PYJO provides advanced instrumental student access to intense training, music, personal and social development, and performance opportunities featuring classic repertoire from the golden age of the quintessential jazz orchestra and big band format. Maestro Justin Faulkner, the Director, and Conductor of the PYJO, currently holds the drum chair in the Grammy Award Winning/ Six-Time Grammy Nominated Branford Marsalis Quartet. He is a faculty member of Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance, a Governor of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy, and the creative consultant for the Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts.

Tune Up Philly – Orchestral Pathways Program

Tune Up Philly – Orchestral Pathways Program offers a differentiated musical curriculum that was created to meet the specific needs of students living in challenging social and economic conditions, with a focus on effecting meaningful community change. As the first Philadelphia-area El Sistema program founded in 2010, Tune Up Philly offers children in under-resourced communities an opportunity to learn and perform orchestral music and make a true difference within their communities, both through the use of music and through a purposeful connection with others. An award-winning educator, classical recording artist, and nationally performed composer, Paul Smith, Director of Tune Up Philly, holds degrees from Mannes College of Music and The Juilliard School. Mr. has helped hundreds of families and leading cultural institutions use intensive performing arts to engage communities and foster success.

Pizzicato Players

Pizzicato Players, a new and expanded educational offering of the PYO Music Institute, strives to create a home to develop critical and large ensemble skills and ensemble experience with conductors and acoustically favorable settings to highlight and nurture plucked instruments which are increasingly used in contemporary settings and throughout conservatories worldwide.

The 2021-2022 Season will culminate with two performances at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

Plucked strings hold a constant and unique presence in the classical canon; their prevalence extends from the Renaissance and Baroque settings, operatic featurettes, and auxiliary orchestration settings in Romantic and Modern Symphonic works.