PYP’s New Building
A Future Home for Portland’s Young Musicians
Returning to Our Roots in Irvington
Over 100 years ago, Portland Youth Philharmonic’s story began in the Irvington neighborhood, where our founder Mary V. Dodge led one of Portland’s first youth orchestras. Now, generations later, we are returning to those roots. PYP has officially purchased the historic Central Lutheran Church, designed in 1950 by renowned Oregon architect Pietro Belluschi.
This milestone marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for PYP. The building will need planning, design work, and renovations before it can fully open, and we will begin moving administrative offices late this fall.
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A Vision Years in the Making
For decades, PYP has dreamed of having a place to call home. A space where music education, community, and creativity can grow together under one roof.
Our new building represents the start of that transformation. In the years ahead, it will become a place where young musicians can learn, rehearse, and be inspired, where families can gather, and where orchestral music can reach new audiences across the Portland region.
This new chapter allows PYP to strengthen its mission of musical excellence and create a home base for future generations of young people to explore, create, and connect through music.
About the Building
Built in 1950, the former Central Lutheran Church is a remarkable example of early Northwest Modern design. Pietro Belluschi’s thoughtful use of natural light, wood, glass, and textured brick creates a space that feels timeless and deeply rooted in Oregon’s landscape and culture.
PYP is committed to preserving and reimagining this building as a place where art and education meet. Renovations will take time, and each phase will be shaped by respect for the building’s architectural history and its role in the Irvington community.
Questions & Answers
Curious about what comes next? Below are a few answers to common questions about PYP’s new home, our move, and what this exciting milestone means for the community.
When will PYP move into the new building?
We move our offices in late November, with gradual setup, building repairs, and activity beginning soon after. We hope for programming to begin on site in Fall 2026.
Why did PYP decide to purchase this building?
Having a permanent home has been a dream for generations of PYP families and musicians. This space will allow us to grow our programs, host rehearsals and educational activities, and provide a central hub for our entire community.
What will the building be used for?
The new PYP home will serve as a space for rehearsals, classes, workshops, performances, community events, and administrative offices. It will be a place where young musicians can develop their skills and connect with others who share their passion for music. The Philharmonic Orchestra will continue to offer its main concert series at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in downtown Portland.
What will happen to the building’s original church features?
Central Lutheran Church has been a cherished landmark in the Irvington neighborhood for more than seventy years. As we adapt the space for music education and community use, PYP will preserve its architectural beauty and honor its history as a place of gathering and inspiration. Some elements will evolve to reflect its new purpose, but every change will be made with care and respect for the building’s legacy.
Will the public be able to visit?
Yes. Once we are settled, we look forward to welcoming our neighbors to see the space, learn about its history, and experience the energy of our students and music firsthand.
How can I stay involved or support this new chapter?
You can follow our updates on social media or sign up for our email list to stay connected. Opportunities to volunteer, attend events, or contribute to our building fund will be shared as the project grows. Want to get involved? Reach out to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to see how you can help!
Looking Ahead
PYP’s new building represents more than a move. It is the beginning of a long-awaited opportunity to build a true home for young musicians. Within these walls, students will learn dedication, collaboration, and creativity. This space will become a foundation for musical excellence and a gathering place for everyone who believes in the power of youth and the arts.
The journey that began in Irvington over 100 years ago is entering a new phase, and the future has never looked brighter.
Join Us in This Next Chapter!
As we begin this move, we look forward to reconnecting with the Irvington community. We cannot wait to welcome our neighbors, share this inspiring space, and celebrate the music that will fill it for generations to come.
Stay connected with us for updates, stories, and opportunities to visit once the space is ready to open.
Want to get involved? Reach out to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to see how you can help!
Digital Museum
PYP has established a framework that ensures the story of their global impact and the legacy of their alumni will be available to inspire current and future generations. Experience this permanent digital timeline for yourself!
Explore the PYP Digital Museum!
Finances
click here to view the Season 101 Annual Report
PYP’s 2023-2024 audited financial statements are available here.
If you have questions or would like to request PYP’s Form 990 or other financial statements, please email Kelly Palin, Finance Manager at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Careers
Volunteer Opportunities
- Children's Concert Usher
Become an Usher for Children’s Concerts to assist teachers and groups of children arriving on buses to find their seats.
- Archive Project
Join our Archive Project, working under the direction of a professional archivist to preserve and catalog many types of historical documents including newspaper clippings, photos, recordings, printed programs, posters, etc.
- Music Library Assistant
Be a Music Library Assistant to help copy and organize music for all ensembles.
- Board of Directors
Join the Board of Directors or be a Board Committee Member — Job descriptions available on request.
- On-Call Volunteer
Be an On-call Volunteer for special projects and/or short-term and last-minute needs.
- Database Maintenance
Work from home? Help update our database by searching online to find current addresses for alumni and donors whose mail has been returned.
Volunteer opportunities cover a range of skills and commitments. You can spend as much or as little time as you like. If you are interested in one of the opportunities listed above, please send an e-mail to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 503.223.5939.
PYP Board
Officers
Directors
Ex Officio
Apply to join the Board
Looking for a way to get involved with PYP while building your professional network and giving back to the community? We are seeking volunteer leaders to join the PYP Board of Directors!
Board members are actively involved in organizational governance and ensuring the health and prosperity of PYP. You’ll attend concerts, monthly board meetings (now with a Zoom option), fundraising events, and participate in one board committee.
If this sounds like music to your ears, fill out this brief Google Form below and we’ll send you more information!
Click here for the Application form
Know of someone who would make a great Board member for PYP?
The Board needs a variety of skills, including accounting, finance, human resources, legal, business, marketing, and media expertise, as well as individuals connected to musical organizations, cultural organizations, and communities of color. Information about financial contribution and other volunteer requirements will be sent once your application is received.
If you have any questions about board service, please email Noreen Murdock.
Purpose
It is the mission of the Portland Youth Philharmonic Association to prepare young people for success through musical excellence.
Vision
High-quality music education is accessible to all young people in our culturally diverse community.
Values
- Equity
Meet young people wherever they are on their musical journey and work to remove obstacles from their pathway to success.
- Excellence
Aspire to the highest possible artistic and organizational standards.
- Discipline
Understand the process of achieving excellence and commit to the work required to succeed.
- Professionalism
Set an example of musicianship, administration, and governance that inspires peer and professional organizations.
- Artistry
Present both historical and contemporary repertoire, representing cultural and gender diversity, with consideration of the work’s original style and context, as well as its relevance today.
- Access
Provide all young people within reach of our programs with affordable, low-cost, and free music education, including admission to PYP performances.
- Integrity
Honor PYP’s legacy of service to young musicians while developing new methods for their success.
- Community
Collaborate with musicians, students, parents, audiences, schools, artists, organizations, and Friends of PYP to build an inclusive, harmonious community that encourages creativity and shares outstanding musical performances.
Statement of Inclusivity
PYP is committed to being a welcoming and safe community for young musicians and their families of all cultures, races, religions, genders, sexual orientations, and circumstances.
If you would like to support PYP, please click our “support” tab for more information.
PYP Staff
Artistic Staff
Inés Voglar Belgique
Portland Youth String Ensemble Conductor
Email Inés
Giancarlo Castro D’Addona
Portland Youth Wind Ensemble Conductor
Email Giancarlo
Ken Selden
Interim Conductor, Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra
Email Ken
Administrative Staff
Meredith Stemen
Office Administrator & Box Office Manager
Email Meredith
Interested in becoming a member of the PYP team? Visit our careers page to see all available positions!
Privacy Statement
Portland Youth Philharmonic created this privacy statement to demonstrate our commitment to maintaining the privacy and security of our musicians, website users, and the communities we serve.
We have established policies to protect the security and privacy of all information we collect. We maintain strict internal policies against unauthorized disclosure or use of any client or web site user information.
Any suspected attempt to breach our policies and procedures, or to engage in any type of unauthorized action involving our web systems will be regarded as potentially criminal activity, and may be reported to the appropriate authorities.
The following discloses our information-gathering and dissemination practices for our websites identified by the domain name of: portlandyouthphil.org.
Personal Information
It is the policy of Portland Youth Philharmonic to respect the privacy of our musicians, members and the people doing business through our services. Personal information presented here WILL NOT be sold, traded, loaned, published or distributed by any other means to any party other than PYP.
Security
This site has security measures in place to protect the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under our control. Security of financial information in transit to and from our websites is typically encrypted using SSL RC4 256-bit encryption protocols. We store client information in secure databases protected with a variety of access controls. This data is accessed only for the purposes specified in this privacy statement.
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Your Internet Protocol (“IP”) address is usually associated with the place from which you enter the Internet, like your Internet Service Provider, your company or your University. We may use your IP address to help diagnose problems with our servers, gather broad demographic information, and administer our web sites.
Opt-Out
This site gives clients and members the following options for removing their information from our databases to disallow future communications or to discontinue our services.
You may remove your own email address from our email-lists by clicking on the opt-out links provided in our automated bulk e-mail.
You may also send email-list removal requests to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Updating Your Information
This site also gives clients and members the following options for changing and modifying information previously provided.
You may update your own information by following the instructions in your Member Profile.
You may also send email-list update requests to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
You may update your membership/client information at Portland Youth Philharmonic at any time by opening your Member Profile, making the necessary changes, then clicking UPDATE.
Your Responsibility
Should you become aware of a breach of our Privacy and Security policies, or should you suspect a breach at any time, please contact us immediately so that we can respond to your concerns directly.
Contacting Portland Youth Philharmonic
If you have any questions about our privacy statement, the practices of our sites, or your interactions with this website, please contact us at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 503-223-5939.
Portland Youth Philharmonic
9320 SW Barbur Boulevard, Suite 140
Portland, OR 97219
Last Modified: August 6, 2018