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More than 150 young musicians who participate in Tune Up Philly (TUP), PYO Music Institute’s highly successful outreach program, will converge for a massive concert on Saturday, May 10 at 3 P.M. at The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Center, 4200 Wissahickon Avenue, Philadelphia. The concert is free, but the organization appreciates donations. For information, call 215-545-0502.
TUP, directed by Delia Raab-Snyder and Paul Smith, is an after-school music education program in eight locations in Philadelphia designed to give youngsters in underserved Philadelphia neighborhoods a chance to learn and perform music. The talented students will provide a wide variety of entertainment at the concert on string, brass, wind and percussion instruments. This widespread program reaches throughout many areas of Philadelphia and TUP programs are in People for People Charter School, Mariana Bracetti Academy Charter School, Mastery Thomas Elementary, The St. James School, Taller Puertorriqueño, and the Kroc Center.
The Festival Concert will mark the first time that youngsters from every TUP site perform together. The concert’s program, specially arranged by Paul Smith to accommodate this multi-faceted group of children in grades 1-12, is designed to highlight TUP’s many components, allowing every student to shine.
“This will be the largest concert of its kind in the city, and the Salvation Army Joan and Ray Kroc Center is an ideal location to stage this event,” notes TUP director Delia Raab-Snyder. “We have been planning and practicing for his Festival Concert for months, and our students are so proud and excited to finally come together to perform.”
Modeled after the El Sistema orchestral program in Venezuela, TUP provides free music instruction bysome of the area’s top musicians and includes access to instruments. TUP operates in a wide variety of schools and community centers, making it the most expansive after-school musical outreach initiative in the city. Its unique approach tailors the music education experience to the needs and interests of the students at each facility, with programming that ranges from specialized orchestral training to fun and inclusive bucket bands.
Launched in 2010 by the acclaimed PYO Music Institute, TUP grew from two locations to eight this year, and the momentum keeps building. Plans are underway to expand existing programming and add more sites. TUP was developed to help underserved children master musical skills while acquiring valuable tools for cooperative learning, teamwork, and academic success. This outreach program is a shining light in the PYO Music Institute organization, the area’s oldest and most respected music education and performance program, as it illustrates the PYO’s commitment to empowering children through music.
