‘SHOGHER JAN’ AND ARMENIA

Posted on May 5, 2021

By composer and pianist Tatev Amiryan (Find her bio on the Youth Orchestra Commissioning Initiative website)

Just by chance, Portland Youth Philharmonic’s Wind Ensemble premiered my original composition Shogher Jan at a very historic time for Armenia, my home country. April 24, 2021, only a couple of weeks after the premiere, was a day anticipated for more than a century by Armenians... Read More ›

Koharu Sakiyama

Posted on March 31, 2021

Camerata PYP will be premiering Koharu ‘s new piece Suite du Cirque on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at 7:00 PM PT on PYP’s YouTube channel.

Koharu Sakiyama is a junior at West Linn High School. She has been composing since age five and currently studies with Michael Johanson. She has won 3rd place in the 2014 Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC)... Read More ›

HARUKA SAKIYAMA

Posted on March 31, 2021

Camerata PYP will be premiering Haruka’s new piece Garden March on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at 7:00 PM PT on PYP’s YouTube channel.

Haruka Sakiyama is an eighth-grader at Athey Creek Middle School. She has been composing for fun for a couple of years, and has won in the 2020 OMEA Composition Competition, and was the Co-Champion of the 2021 OMEA Composition... Read More ›

PYPFEST COMPOSER: EFRAÍN AMAYA

Posted on October 27, 2020

American conductor and composer Efraín Amaya was born in Venezuela, where he began his musical training. Continuing his studies in the United States, he earned two Bachelors of music degrees in composition and piano from Indiana University, and a Master’s degree in orchestral conducting from Rice University.

PYPFEST COMPOSER: POLINA NAZAYKINSKAYA

Posted on October 26, 2020

Born in Togliatti, Russia, Polina Nazaykinskaya has been studying music since the age of four, and composed her first large-scale work at 14. She went on to create music for both chamber and full orchestras, as well as art songs, film music, musical theater works, an opera, and, recently, her first symphony, April Song. In June 2018, The RIOULT Dance... Read More ›

PYPFEST COMPOSER: KEYLA OROZCO

Posted on October 26, 2020

Cuban born composer Keyla Orozco is as well a dedicated music educator who enjoys working with children and young pupils the most. Educational repertoire for piano beginners and for youth orchestras of different levels can be found within her diverse music catalogue. Her international career as a Composer has made her recipient of several awards such as the Guggenheim Fellowship,... Read More ›