Summer Social Kicks Off Season 103!

Celebrating Classical Music Month as PYP Moves Forward

Posted on September 10, 2026

September is Classical Music Month, and at Portland Youth Philharmonic, we’re celebrating by bringing young musicians together for the start of Season 103. As students open their music, reconnect with friends, and begin rehearsing together, they take part in something that keeps classical music growing: each generation discovering this music for themselves and sharing it with others.

Our theme this season, Momentum, reflects that ongoing movement. A piece may have been performed for generations, but for a student encountering it for the first time, everything is new. Learning it means making discoveries, asking questions, and finding something personal within the notes. When those individual experiences come together in an ensemble, audiences get to hear familiar music through a new group of musicians, with their own energy and understanding.

This September, that work will begin in our forever home at Central Lutheran in Portland’s Irvington neighborhood. Students, families, and friends will soon fill the halls with music, laughter, and the excitement of a new season. Construction has begun and new carpet has been installed in the sanctuary, with more work ahead as we prepare the building for our community. Alongside those improvements, the everyday life of PYP will begin making the space our own, from friends greeting one another before rehearsal to an ensemble playing its first notes together.

Having a place for those experiences helps us carry classical music forward. Young musicians need opportunities to learn, people who encourage them, and room to discover what they can accomplish together. In rehearsal, students hear how their preparation supports the ensemble and learn to listen and respond to one another. Working through a challenging piece takes patience and trust, and the relationships built through that process can become as meaningful as the performance itself.

Classical Music Month is an opportunity to recognize the value of that experience. Whether students pursue music professionally or follow other interests, they can carry a love of music and a sense of belonging with them. They may become performers, teachers, regular concertgoers, or the person who introduces a friend to their first orchestra concert. Each of those connections helps music remain part of our shared lives.

Audiences participate in that exchange, too, and Season 103 offers plenty to explore together. Our opening program features works by Turina, Alejandro Belgique, and Chávez, alongside Rodrigo’s *Concierto de Aranjuez* with the first guitar soloist in PYP history. Later in the season, our musicians will take on Mahler’s Fifth Symphony. For some listeners, these performances will be a first encounter with the music; for others, a chance to return to a favorite and hear what our students bring to it.

Behind every performance is a community helping make it possible. Families make time for rehearsals, teachers guide students through challenges, and donors help expand access. When audiences join them in supporting young musicians, they help ensure that the music we celebrate this September continues to be learned, performed, and enjoyed throughout the year.

We invite you to celebrate Classical Music Month by becoming part of Season 103. Support PYP with a season pass and enjoy all four concerts at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall while saving up to 30%, or choose an individual performance when single tickets go on sale September 14. Whether you’re a longtime supporter or joining us for your first concert, we look forward to sharing this music with you!

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Portland Youth Philharmonic’s Season 103 Celebrates Growth, Discovery, and Music in Motion

Posted on August 12, 2026

Want a head start on Season 103? Get your season pass and save 30% on all concerts!

Get your Pass to Season 103!

Portland Youth Philharmonic’s Season 103 brings together a wide-ranging collection of works that stretch across continents, centuries, and musical traditions. From the Spanish colors of Rodrigo and Turina to the sweeping emotional world of Mahler, the season reflects both the breadth of orchestral music and the remarkable growth of the young musicians who bring it to life.

For Musical Director David Hattner, building a PYP season is about more than selecting great repertoire. Each program is designed to help form an orchestra.

“Every season is a design of several things all at once,” Hattner explains. With many new musicians joining the orchestra each year, the season must create a path for students to grow from a newly assembled group into a unified ensemble. Season 103 is shaped with that journey in mind, beginning with music full of color and character, building toward one of the great symphonic milestones, and closing with works that reflect youthful ambition and American musical identity.

The season opens with a program influenced by Spain and Mexico, featuring Rodrigo’s beloved Concierto de Aranjuez. One of the most famous works for guitar and orchestra, the concerto offers audiences the rare chance to experience the warmth and intimacy of the guitar alongside the full power of the orchestra. For PYP, it also marks something new: welcoming a guest guitarist to share the stage with the ensemble.

Hattner sees live performance as essential to the experience. A piece of music, he notes, remains only marks on a page until musicians bring it to life. In the concert hall, the audience becomes part of that moment, hearing not only the notes but the energy, focus, and immediacy of young musicians opening a new season together.

The program also reaches deeper into musical history and identity. Paired with Spanish-influenced works is Carlos Chávez’s Sinfonía India, a piece that looks toward pre-colonial musical traditions in Mexico. Hattner connects this to a broader idea of musical storytelling: the orchestra can reveal histories, cultures, and sounds that existed long before familiar modern traditions took hold.

The 65th annual Concert-at-Christmas brings a different kind of energy with a “Classical Top 10” program filled with instantly recognizable works. Pieces like Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld Overture, Rossini’s William Tell Overture, and Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 5 have remained audience favorites for generations. For Hattner, “classical” in this context really means timeless: music that continues to delight listeners because it still speaks clearly and directly.

In March, the season reaches a major milestone with Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. A monumental work of more than an hour, the symphony is both technically demanding and emotionally expansive. With its famous opening funeral march, vast orchestral forces, and eventual movement toward triumph, Mahler’s Fifth asks every section of the orchestra to take on serious responsibility. For PYP musicians, it is the kind of challenge that can define a season.

The spring finale looks ahead while honoring America’s musical past. Alongside the annual PYP Concerto Competition winner, the program includes Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 1, a work written when Copland was only in his twenties. Hattner sees a meaningful connection between the young composer making his first major statement and the young musicians performing it today.

At the heart of Season 103 is PYP’s enduring belief in young people. Since 1924, Portland Youth Philharmonic has asked students to take on great music with seriousness, discipline, and imagination. Season 103 continues that tradition, offering audiences the chance to hear extraordinary young musicians perform repertoire of depth, difficulty, beauty, and lasting power.

Season 103 Schedule

Want a head start on Season 103? Get your season pass and save 30% on all concerts!

Get your Pass to Season 103!

PYP Named Portland’s Best Musical Group for the Second Year in a Row!

Posted on July 22, 2026

We are proud to share that Portland Youth Philharmonic has been named Best Musical Group in Willamette Week’s Best of Portland 2026 readers’ poll. This marks our second year in a row receiving this incredible honor!

Winning two years running means so much because this recognition comes directly from our community. It celebrates the extraordinary young musicians who bring every performance to life with dedication and artistry. It also reflects the commitment of their families, the guidance of our teaching artists, and the support of audience members, donors, alumni, and friends who believe in the power of young musicians.

For more than a century, PYP has been a place where young musicians grow as artists and individuals. Our students do more than rehearse and perform. They collaborate, lead, and inspire. Every concert is a reminder of what is possible when young people are given the space and support to thrive.

As we celebrate this milestone, we are also looking ahead to Season 103. Four Schnitzer Series concerts will take audiences from the sweeping beauty of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez to the emotional power of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, with familiar holiday favorites and rarely heard American works along the way.

The season includes:

Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez: Autumn Magnolias | November 14, 2026
Featuring Gwenyth Aggeler as the first guitar soloist in PYP history.

65th Annual Concert-at-Christmas | December 26, 2026
A festive collection of familiar orchestral favorites performed by ensembles from across PYP.

Mahler’s Symphony No. 5: After the Storm | March 6, 2027
A monumental work filled with drama, beauty, and triumph.

Copland’s Symphony No. 1: Momentus | May 2, 2027
Featuring music by Griffes and Copland alongside our Concerto Competition winner.

If you have never attended a PYP concert, Season 103 is the perfect time to experience the passion, precision, and energy of our musicians. If you have joined us before, we invite you to return and celebrate this exciting new chapter with us!

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Celebrating Juneteenth Through the Music of Jessie Montgomery

Posted on June 18, 2026

As we celebrate Juneteenth, Portland Youth Philharmonic is proud to recognize the contributions of Black composers whose creativity and artistry continue to shape the classical music landscape. Among the most influential voices working today is acclaimed American composer, violinist, and educator Jessie Montgomery.

Montgomery’s music has become a favorite among musicians and audiences alike for its energy, imagination, and distinctive voice. Drawing inspiration from a wide range of musical traditions, her works blend rhythmic vitality, expressive lyricism, and a spirit of innovation that resonates with performers of all ages.

Over the past several seasons, PYP musicians have had the opportunity to explore multiple works by Jessie Montgomery. PYP performed her spirited work Strum as part of the orchestra’s Season 100 Finale concert in 2024.

Portland Youth Philharmonic Performing Jessie Montgomery’s Strum at our Season 100 Finale

and in January 2025, Camerata PYP collaborated with pianist Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner in a performance of Rounds, a dynamic and engaging work that showcases Montgomery’s inventive approach to rhythm and texture.

Camerata PYP Performing Jessie Montgomery’s Rounds with piano soloist Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner

Most recently, PYP’s flagship orchestra performed Starburst as part of the Season 102 Finale concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on May 3, 2026. Written for string orchestra, Starburst is a brief but exhilarating work that lives up to its name, capturing the feeling of rapid creation and expansion through bursts of rhythm, color, and brilliance. The piece challenged and energized our student musicians while offering audiences a thrilling concert experience.

Through works like Rounds, Strum, and Starburst, Jessie Montgomery continues to inspire a new generation of musicians while expanding the possibilities of contemporary classical music. This Juneteenth, we celebrate her artistry and the lasting impact of Black composers whose voices enrich our stages, classrooms, and communities.

Season 102 Recap: A Season of Transformation, Momentum, and Community

Posted on May 18, 2026

Season 102 was a landmark year for Portland Youth Philharmonic.

Across four major performances at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, expanded community programming, and one of the most significant organizational milestones in recent history, PYP celebrated a season defined by artistic ambition, connection, and forward momentum.

Rising Winds

Lucy Joo, Soloist for Season 102 opener, Rising Winds

The season opened in November with Rising Winds, a program filled with color, energy, and emotional depth. Music Director David Hattner led the orchestra through Gabriela Ortiz’s vibrant La Calaca and Percy Grainger’s beloved Lincolnshire Posy, while PYP student Lucy Joo delivered a stunning performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor.” As winner of the 2025 Portland Piano International Concerto Competition, Lucy brought extraordinary poise, musical maturity, and power to one of the most demanding works in the piano repertoire, creating one of the defining musical moments of the season.

Popcorn Solstice

PYSE Student at Concert-At-Christmas

In December, PYP continued its annual Concert-at-Christmas tradition with Popcorn Solstice, an evening that blended cinematic spectacle, orchestral classics, and community celebration. The concert featured the world premiere of Bruce Stark’s Popcorn Fantasia, written especially for the occasion, alongside Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Suite from On the Waterfront, selections from Wicked, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s electrifying Dance of the Tumblers. One of the evening’s highlights came from the return of the PYP Alumni Orchestra, who joined the celebration with a special performance of John Williams’ iconic Raiders March. The concert captured the spirit of what makes PYP unique: serious artistry paired with joy, accessibility, and connection across generations of musicians.

Flames of Transformation

Leo Trajano, Soloist

March brought Flames of Transformation, one of the season’s most emotionally powerful programs. The concert centered around Jessica Meyer’s Turbulent Flames, a bold and deeply expressive contemporary work that PYP helped commission as part of a national consortium project. The evening also featured violinist Leo Trajano, winner of the 2025 PYP Concerto Competition, performing Max Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy with remarkable confidence and lyricism. Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 3 closed the concert with sweeping orchestral color and cinematic grandeur, showcasing the orchestra’s continued artistic growth and maturity.

Firebird Finale

Horn Section for Firebird Finale

Season 102 concluded in May with Firebird Finale, a thrilling and symbolic close to the year. Featuring works by Dvořák, Copland, Jessie Montgomery, and Stravinsky, the concert explored themes of identity, folklore, transformation, and renewal. Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst brought explosive rhythmic energy to the stage, while Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite served as a fitting finale for a season defined by ambition, creativity, and forward motion.

Community Programs

Beyond the stage, Season 102 also saw continued growth in PYP’s community and educational programming. From family field trips and free Children’s Concerts to bass classes, school partnerships, and conductor visits, PYP continued expanding opportunities for young musicians and families across the region to connect with orchestral music in meaningful ways. These programs remain central to PYP’s mission, helping create pathways for students of all backgrounds to experience music not just as performance, but as community, mentorship, and lifelong inspiration.

Season 102 also marked one of the most important milestones in recent PYP history: the purchase of a new permanent home for the organization. As plans begin to take shape for the new building, the season carried a palpable sense that PYP is entering a new era, one rooted in both legacy and long-term investment in future generations of young musicians.

More than anything, Season 102 was a reminder of the power of youth music-making. Behind every performance were countless hours of rehearsal, collaboration, mentorship, and growth. Together, these students created something far larger than a concert season. They created momentum for the future.

Portland Youth Philharmonic Appoints Ken Selden as Conductor of Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra!

Posted on April 16, 2026

Portland Youth Philharmonic is pleased to announce the appointment of Ken Selden as Conductor of Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra. After serving as interim conductor since January, Selden now steps into the role permanently, joining PYP’s artistic staff alongside Music Director David Hattner, PYSE Conductor Inés Voglar Belgique, and PYWE Conductor Giancarlo Castro.

Selden brings a deep well of experience as both a conductor and educator. Since 2006, he has served as Music Director of the Portland State University Orchestra, where his programming has earned multiple awards for innovation and artistic vision. His work has taken him across the Pacific Northwest and beyond, building a career grounded in both musical excellence and a strong commitment to developing young musicians.

For Selden, the connection to Portland Youth Philharmonic goes back many years. As a member of the local music community, he has long followed the organization’s work from the audience, consistently impressed by the level of artistry and dedication displayed by its students. Stepping into the role of interim conductor earlier this season offered a new perspective, and one that quickly deepened his connection to the ensemble.

During his time with PYCO this season, Selden has already led several major performances, including appearances at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and George Fox University. He is currently preparing the ensemble for Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, continuing a season that reflects both the ensemble’s strength and its potential.

His appointment follows the retirement of longtime PYCO conductor Larry Johnson, who led the ensemble for two decades and helped shape its identity within Portland Youth Philharmonic. Selden steps into the role with a clear respect for that legacy and a focus on building upon it in the years ahead.

As one of PYP’s core ensembles, Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra plays a vital role in the organization’s progression of training, supporting young musicians as they continue to grow and prepare for advancement. With Selden’s leadership, the ensemble enters its next chapter with a strong foundation and a renewed sense of momentum.

Looking ahead, Selden is eager to continue introducing students to the depth and breadth of orchestral repertoire while fostering an environment that challenges and inspires. His appointment marks an exciting moment for PYCO and for the broader PYP community.

The Final Movement Begins: A Three-Concert Finale to Season 102

Posted on March 19, 2026

As Portland Youth Philharmonic’s Season 102 builds toward its conclusion, three performances in early May offer audiences some of the most compelling live classical music in Portland this spring. These concerts are a reflection of months of dedication, growth, and artistry from some of the region’s most talented young musicians.

For those looking for things to do in Portland this May, this three-concert series offers a unique opportunity to experience the full range of PYP’s programs, from full symphony orchestra to chamber ensemble to developing conservatory musicians.

The final stretch begins on Sunday, May 3 at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with Firebird Finale, a program centered on transformation, identity, and imagination. The evening opens with Antonín Dvořák’s My Homeland, followed by Aaron Copland’s El Salón México, both rich in cultural storytelling and orchestral color. Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst brings a burst of contemporary energy before the season culminates in Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite (1919). With its sweeping drama and luminous orchestration, Firebird serves as a fitting metaphor for the journey these students have taken throughout the season.

On Thursday, May 7, Camerata PYP presents Sound Garden at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts. This performance highlights the precision and collaboration of PYP’s premier chamber ensemble, offering a more intimate live music experience in the Portland area. Featuring works by Boyce, Elgar, Mozart, and Bach, along with Ruth Gipps’ Clarinet Concerto performed by David Hattner, the program showcases the nuance and artistry that come from focused ensemble work. Every musician plays a vital role, creating a dynamic musical conversation on stage.

The season concludes on Saturday, May 9 with the Cadenza Series Spring Concert at the Newmark Theatre. Featuring Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra, Portland Youth Wind Ensemble, and Portland Youth String Ensemble, this concert highlights the next generation of musicians within PYP. With repertoire ranging from Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition to works by Soon Hee Newbold and Mozart, audiences will experience the energy and promise of students at every stage of their musical journey.

Together, these three performances form a powerful and intentional close to Season 102. They represent not only what happens on stage, but everything behind it: the hours of rehearsal, the individual practice, the challenges, and the breakthroughs that shape each musician’s growth.

For many students, this finale is also a turning point, a moment to reflect on how far they’ve come and where they want to go next.

If you or your student have been inspired by these performances and are interested in becoming part of Portland Youth Philharmonic, Season 103 auditions are just around the corner. You can learn more and submit an interest form here:

Season 103 New Student Audition Form

As the final notes of Season 102 begin to take shape, one thing is clear: this is more than a series of concerts. It’s a season built on commitment, community, and a shared love of music, coming together in one unforgettable three-part finale.