Avshalomov/Bernstein 9: The Taking of T’ung Kuan and PYP

Posted on January 28, 2019

The Taking of T’ung Kuan has had an especially significant role in PJS/PYP’s history: it was played for the thirtieth anniversary concert in 1954, for Avshalomov’s 25th anniversary in 1979, and again in 1988 before it would be performed as a part of the regular program in the 1989 European tour.  There is no one better qualified to discuss this aspect than... Read More ›

DAVID HATTNER’S APRIL PYP PLAYLIST

Posted on April 2, 2018

PYP Musical Director David Hattner shares what’s currently on his playlist. Revamp your own playlist with selections from our PYP Playlist on Twitter on #MusicMonday.

March 28, 2018 marked the 99th anniversary of the birth of one of the central figures in the history of the Portland Youth Philharmonic. It is no exaggeration to say that there would be no Portland Youth... Read More ›

Happy 99th birthday, Mr A!

Posted on March 27, 2018

March 28, 2018 would have been the 99th birthday of Jacob Avshalomov! “Mr. A,” as he was affectionately called, conducted the Portland Junior Symphony (now Portland Youth Philharmonic) from 1953 to 1994. For a summary of the orchestra’s history continue reading this section of our website.

In 2009, OPB’s Nadine Jelsing interviewed Mr. A about his life, his passion for music, and PYP’s... Read More ›

Remembering Ernestine Oringdulph

Posted on October 13, 2017

1979 - PYP and then Musical Director Jacob Avshalomov visiting the Great Buddha in Kamakura while on tour in Japan

Portland Youth Philharmonic would not be here today without the dedicated individuals who helped build it and support it over the decades. Ernestine Oringdulph was one of those people. She was a tireless board member and dedicated parent of musicians in... Read More ›

Then & Now: PJS Alumnus Walter Maddox

Posted on December 1, 2016

Portland Junior Symphony alumnus and Jacob Avshalomov‘s First Concertmaster Walter Maddox shared the following excerpts in a letter to PYP’s Development Manager Kristan Knapp.

Dear Kristan,

At my oral exam at Juilliard, I appeared before the entire Composition Faculty. They tried to fool me, asking, “what is this music?” I looked it over quickly and said, (1958) “this looks like Schubert, but it isn’t. It’s... Read More ›