PYP is excited to welcome Giancarlo Castro D’Addona as conductor of PYP’s Wind Ensemble

Posted on January 29, 2020

Portland Youth Philharmonic is proud to announce Giancarlo Castro D’Addona as conductor of the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble!

An award-winning composer, conductor, and trumpet player, D’Addona is recognized as one of the most outstanding artists to have emerged from Venezuela’s acclaimed El Sistema music education program.  As a conductor, he has led many orchestras and chamber music groups, including the Simón Bolívar Orchestra in... Read More ›

A.J. Rubin - In his own words: Finding my Joy

Posted on January 27, 2020

17-year-old A.J. Rubin currently plays trumpet in PYP’s Conservatory Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. He joined the organization in 2017.

I’ve been a performer since I was 5 years old and took part in my first talent show singing “Bad Bad Leroy Brown.” I’ve been an artist since before I can remember. For me, performing is not to be the center of attention, but simply... Read More ›

PROGRAM NOTES: Li Huanzhi’s ‘Spring Festival’ Overture

Posted on January 22, 2020

Photo from chinaplus.cri.cn

We’re performing Li Huanzhi’s Spring Festival Overture on Monday, March 2, 2020 at Skyview High School and Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

Li Huanzhi’s Spring Festival Overture, one of China’s true musical treasures, is the first movement of a suite honoring the Lunar New Year, which falls between January 21 and February 20. It depicts... Read More ›

PROGRAM NOTES: Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto

Posted on January 20, 2020

16-year-old Nate Strothkamp, winner of Portland Youth Philharmonic’s 2019 Concerto Competition, will perform Erich Wolfgang Korngold‘s Violin Concerto with the orchestra on Monday, March 2, 2020 at Skyview High School and Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

Learn more about the piece in these program notes written by Nate!

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957) was an Austrian composer known for many of... Read More ›

BEN PRICE’S PYP PLAYLIST

Posted on January 13, 2020

16-year-old oboist Ben Price is currently a member of PYP. They joined our organization in 2016, as part of our Conservatory Orchestra. Ben is a sophomore at Grant High School.

We asked them to share some of their favorite music in their PYP Playlist.

What is the first classical piece that you remember hearing?

My earliest memory of classical music is hearing... Read More ›

STEVEN SCHUSTER’S PYP PLAYLIST

Posted on December 11, 2019

16-year-old Steven Schuster currently plays French Horn in our Conservatory Orchestra. He is a junior at Sandy High School and joined our organization last season, playing in our Wind Ensemble.

We asked Steven to share some of his favorite music in his PYP Playlist.

What is the first classical piece that you remember hearing? The Largo from Antonín Dvořák’s New World Symphony

What is... Read More ›