A Young PYPO Composer Hears His Work Come to Life

This past year, PYPO musician and Mt. Lebanon student Peter Atwood composed an original work for French horn quartet. After sharing the piece with his band director at Mt. Lebanon High School, Mr. Brett McCutcheon, Peter was given the unique opportunity to premiere the work alongside fellow student musicians during the school’s Small Band Ensemble Concert this January. The experience inspired him to turn this work into his very first full orchestral work.

When Peter’s family approached PYPO about the possibility of a read-through, PYPO’s leadership team and Music Director, Mr. Patrick Forsyth, immediately helped bring Peter’s vision to life by connecting him with well-established West Virginia composer Matthew Jackfert, who mentored Peter through the process of refining the work and adapting it for youth orchestra.

That collaboration ultimately led to a sight-reading session of the work, titled Aeolus, performed by members of PYPO’s Philharmonic Orchestra. For everyone involved, the experience became a powerful reminder of what can happen when educators, professional artists, families, and young musicians come together to support creativity and growth.

The camaraderie, mentorship, and shared excitement surrounding the project left a lasting impression on all of us fortunate enough to witness it unfold. So you can imagine how thrilled we were to later learn that Peter’s composition, Aeolus, was recognized as an Outstanding Selection in PMEA’s 2026 Composition Program.

This is the impact of youth arts education. This is the power of community.

This is why PYPO continues to invest in young musicians.

Congratulations, Peter, for an outstanding composition!