PORTLAND YOUTH PHILHARMONIC SUSPENDS 96TH SEASON
Posted on April 13, 2020
PORTLAND, OR – With Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s executive order prohibiting all public gatherings to help slow the spread of COVID-19, Portland Youth Philharmonic is taking steps to ensure the health and safety of its musicians, audiences, staff, and volunteers. In an unprecedented move, the organization has cancelled all remaining rehearsals for all four of its ensembles and all remaining Season 96 performances. This includes PYP’s Nielsen Sinfonia Espansiva concert originally planned for Sunday, May 3, 2020, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, and PYP Presents Dvořák’s 6th, scheduled for Sunday, May 17, 2020, at Canby High School.
“For over 95 years, the Portland Youth Philharmonic has consistently performed for audiences in Oregon,” says Musical Director David Hattner. “To my knowledge, a performance by the orchestra has never before been cancelled. Unfortunately, the national emergency through which we are all living requires us to skip our Season 96 closing concerts. Everyone who is part of PYP looks forward to a time in the very near future when it will be safe for our musicians to resume their regular rehearsals and perform again for the community.”
On Monday, April 13, all ticket holders received a personal message from PYP sent to the email address used to purchase tickets, outlining options for next steps. As it is a nonprofit arts organization, the orchestra sincerely hopes its audience members will donate the cost of their tickets back to Portland Youth Philharmonic. Converting tickets to donations will help PYP, the nation’s longest running youth orchestra, to navigate this unparalleled global pandemic. Requesting a refund is also an option. Any ticket holders who did not receive a message can review options on the organization’s website at www.portlandyouthphil.org/tickets96.
Since its founding in the 1920s, PYP has provided young musicians in the Greater Portland area with a challenging opportunity to explore their creativity while receiving the highest quality music education. The orchestra’s long tradition of excellence has produced consistently inspiring performances dating back to its first concert in February 1925.
In the past few weeks, PYP has made significant efforts to connect virtually with its community through weekly video chats with current musicians, social media challenges for musicians, and livestreamed conversations for the public with the Musical Director on YouTube. Click here to learn how the orchestra is adapting in these socially distance times.
PYP will present its next livestream conversation open to the public on YouTube and Facebook on Thursday, April 16, 2020, at 6:00 PM PDT / 9:00 PM EDT. Learn more at www.portlandyouthphil.org/livestream.