Programs to support young musicians in the Philadelphia region:
All City Fellowship
The Philadelphia Orchestra is proud to be the lead artistic partner for the School District of Philadelphia’s All-City Orchestra. In addition to Orchestra musicians conducting the All-City Orchestra rehearsals and participating in side-by-side rehearsals with All-City Orchestra musicians, The Philadelphia Orchestra presents the annual All-City Concert in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center.
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All City Orchestra Summer Academy
All City Orchestra Summer Academy (ACOSA) is The Mann Center for Performing Arts’ premier summer orchestra training camp for young instrumentalists.
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Buy One, Give One Program
The Eastman Music Company and members of The Philadelphia Orchestra together developed a line of string instruments called “La Scala.” These high-quality violins, violas, cellos, and basses are sold by authorized Eastman dealers in and around Philadelphia. For each instrument sold, Eastman and The Philadelphia Orchestra donate the equivalent instrument to a student in need in the Philadelphia community.
For more information, please visit: https://eastmanstrings-eastman.nationbuilder.com/
Excerpts Library
Looking for tips on how to ace playing common excerpts found on orchestral audition lists? Explore our excerpt library for recordings of Philadelphia Orchestra musicians.
Go to the Excerpt Library
The Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY)
The Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (or PMAY) supports 5th-12th graders from communities that are underrepresented on the symphony orchestra stage and those who encounter hardships to realize their musical potential and ultimately pursue their dream of becoming professional classical musicians. The PMAY Artists’ Initiative will offer students financial support to make lessons, music classes, youth orchestra participation, and summer music camps affordable. Students will be able to attend free college and career preparation workshops, and PMAY teachers and staff will work with each family to make sure each musician has a strong plan to be accepted into a music conservatory, college or university music school majoring in music.
PMAY is a collaboration among ten Philadelphia organizations that believe in providing access to music education for all students. The Philadelphia Orchestra All City Fellows are eligible for PMAY Membership as a further layer of support as they progress though their high school music education and, eventually, to college careers in music.
Additional PMAY Partner Organizations are: Musicopia, Philadelphia Sinfonia, PYO Music Institute, Project 440, School District of Philadelphia Office of Music Education, Settlement Music School, Temple University Music Preparatory Division, and The Primavera Fund.
PMAY and The Philadelphia Orchestra All City Fellowship are supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Side-by-Side Rehearsals
Each year The Philadelphia Orchestra selects one youth orchestra to sit side-by-side with our world-renowned musicians in a rehearsal of quality orchestral literature led by a skilled conductor. This thrilling opportunity connects developing musicians with their professional counterparts for one-on-one coaching in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Participants of this program have included the Delaware County Youth Orchestra, the Philadelphia Sinfonia, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, the PMEA Region VI Orchestra, the School District of Philadelphia All-City Orchestra, and the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County.
Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition
The Philadelphia Orchestra Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition is dedicated to fostering and recognizing extraordinary young talent in the Greater Philadelphia region.
The Philadelphia Orchestra’s annual Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition is open to all accomplished young instrumentalists, pianists, and vocalists who reside in—or study regularly with a teacher in—the Greater Philadelphia area. Entrants are divided into categories by age: Children’s Division, ages 12 and under; Junior Division, ages 13 to 16; and Senior Division, ages 17 to 21 for instrumentalists and ages 17 to 29 for vocalists. The young musicians compete against a standard of excellence in recorded preliminary and live final rounds and are evaluated on the following merits: exceptional talent, virtuosity, artistic individuality, and comportment as a performer.
The Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition is postponed for season 2020-21. Please check here for future updates.