Hillsboro Violinist Leo Trajano Wins the 2025 PYP Concerto Competition

Posted on October 9, 2025

Seventeen-year-old violinist Leo Trajano from Hillsboro, Oregon, has been named the winner of the 2025 Portland Youth Philharmonic Concerto Competition. As the top prize winner, Leo will perform as soloist with PYP at the March 7, 2026 concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

For Leo, preparing for the competition was all about focus, rest, and positive energy. “This was obviously an... Read More ›

Turning the Page: Season 102 Begins!

Posted on September 3, 2025

The start of a new season is always a time of renewal. As the summer heat begins to fade and the first hints of autumn arrive, the musicians of Portland Youth Philharmonic are preparing to gather once again. In just a few days, the rehearsal hall will be filled with the familiar sounds of tuning strings, the warmth of brass,... Read More ›

Alumni Spotlight: Jason McComb From First Symphony to a Life in Music

Posted on August 12, 2025

When Jason McComb took his seat in the cello section of PYP’s Prep Orchestra in the fall of 1981, he was about to experience a first that would shape the rest of his life.

“The first symphony I ever played was Schubert’s Unfinished,” Jason recalls. “That feeling of being part of something so much bigger, surrounded by other musicians just as excited as I... Read More ›

Season 102 Round 2 Auditions Are Open! Find Your Place at PYP

Posted on August 7, 2025

What does it mean to be part of Portland Youth Philharmonic? For many young musicians, it’s more than just playing in an orchestra. It’s a space where passion meets purpose. Where technical growth, real-world collaboration, and lifelong friendships are all part of the experience.

PYP is proud to be the first youth orchestra established in the United States, blazing a trail since... Read More ›

Portland Youth Philharmonic Named “Best Band/Musical Group” – Join Us for Season 102!

Posted on July 24, 2025

We are proud to share that Portland Youth Philharmonic has been named Best Band/Musical Group in Willamette Week’s Best of Portland 2025.

This recognition means so much to our entire community. It celebrates the incredible young musicians who bring every performance to life with dedication and artistry. It reflects the commitment of their families, the support of our teaching artists, and the... Read More ›

Honoring Juneteenth Through Music: William Grant Still’s Vision of a New America

Posted on June 18, 2025

June 19 marks Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Though the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, freedom did not reach enslaved African Americans in Texas until June 19, 1865—over two years later. Juneteenth has since become a day of remembrance, reflection, and celebration of Black culture, resilience, and achievement.

At Portland Youth... Read More ›