Our Mission
The mission of Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra is to educate, train, and foster a lifelong love of music for young Pittsburgh musicians.
What We're About
The foundation of our curriculum is to develop the musicianship of all our students. We believe that the lessons and qualities derived from that work—the self-discipline needed for excellence, the empathy required of music making, and the openness and inquisitiveness essential to creativity—are critical to achievement in any pursuit, musical or otherwise.
Music is a powerful catalyst for personal growth, which is central to any human experience. Our orchestra is distinctly contemporary in its content and approach, covering our time's principal musical movements. Through a course of scholarly and practical learning experiences integrating performance and student leadership, our curriculum covers a variety of influential styles in orchestral music and various levels accessible to all students.
Our Story
PYPO was founded in 1993 to provide extraordinary orchestral experiences for young musicians to further develop their musicianship outside of school time. In the three decades since, we have grown from one to five ensembles, and engage over 400 students each year through our school-year ensembles, summer camps, international tours, and elementary school string and band festivals.
Based in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, PYPO serves students from first through twelfth grades, from schools all across Allegheny County. Through PYPO's five ensembles, students have access to age-appropriate instruction and the room to grow within the organization.
PYPO presents three performances each year in venues all across Pittsburgh. Past performances include the Soldiers and Sailors Hall, Carnegie Music Hall, Hillman Center for the Performing Arts, and PNC Park, the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In addition to local concerts, PYPO has ventured on six international tours, performing in halls across Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, France, Italy, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Ireland. PYPO's ensembles have also been heard on Pennsylvania Cable Network's (PCN) Sounds of the Season, and on WRCT's Saturday Light Brigade.
Musical education is a path toward emotional awareness, leadership skills, personal growth, and lasting relationships. At PYPO, we create musical opportunities through...
Inspiring Performances
PYPO students work hard to prepare for performances in distinctive concert venues across Pittsburgh, such as Carnegie Music Hall and the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. By providing these pivotal moments for our students, we seek to inspire a sense of accomplishment and confidence that lasts a lifetime.
