Phila. Youth Orchestra Students Recognized In All-City Concerto Competition

The students of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) organization demonstrate, once again, how talented they are! Six of the nine finalists of the 2019 School District of Philadelphia's All-City Concerto Competition are current PYO members, including the first place winner, Marquise Bradley. The School District of Philadelphia's All-City Music Program, consisting of a full symphonic orchestra, concert band, and choir, is audition based and includes the top performing student musicians within The School District of Philadelphia.

Louis Scaglione, President and Music Director of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) organization, was delighted PYO students were well represented in this year's competition. He said, "The experience garnered by students participating in PYO and the School District of Philadelphia's All-City Music Programs prepare them for tremendous levels of success throughout their careers, whether in music or other fields. The level of seriousness our students bring to their instruments continues to inspire me. I offer sincere congratulations to all of this year's participants and to First Place Winner Marquise Bradley."

Marquise Bradley is a clarinetist in PYO, a senior at the Creative and Performing Arts High School (CAPA) and resides in North Philadelphia. Bradley was also recently accepted into The Philadelphia Orchestra's All City Fellowship program and is an artist of the Primavera Fund and the Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY).

Here is a list of all PYO students who competed with all of these students receiving honors. They participate in various PYO organization ensembles -- either the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) or Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO).

RUNNERS-UP

2nd PLACE:

Greg Padilla, bass, PYO, 12th grade at Creative and Performing Arts High School, lives in Northeast Philadelphia

3rd PLACE:

Daniel Kim, cello, PYO, 12th grade at Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School, lives in Center City

FINALISTS:

Semaj Murphy, violin, PYAO, 10th grade at Girard Academic Music Program, lives in Northwest Philadelphia

Malinda Voell, flute, PYO 12th grade, Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, lives in Northeast Philadelphia

HONORABLE MENTION:

Louis Dong, violin, PYAO, 10th grade at Creative and Performing Arts High School, lives in North Philadelphia

About the School District of Philadelphia's All-City Program:

For over 70 years, the School District of Philadelphia's All-City Program has been dedicated to opening doors and broadening educational and vocational horizons for music students in Philadelphia. Its alumni include musicians in orchestras around the country, including The Philadelphia Orchestra. The School District of Philadelphia's All-City Orchestra is under the music direction of Joseph Conyers, Assistant Principal Bass of The Philadelphia Orchestra.

About Philadelphia Youth Orchestra: Now in its 79th year of training tomorrow's leaders, the renowned Philadelphia Youth Orchestra organization is one of the nation's oldest and most respected community music education and youth orchestra performance programs, providing talented young musicians from across the tri-state area with exceptional musical training. Students go on to excel in many diverse fields, and it is with pride that Philadelphia Youth Orchestra notes that many members of the prestigious Philadelphia Orchestra are alumni. For more information, please visit www.pyos.org.

The anchor group is the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO), conducted by President and Music Director Louis Scaglione, featuring 120 gifted instrumentalists who range in age from 14-21. Young musicians 12-18 years old are featured in PYO's companion ensemble, the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra, which is led by Director and Conductor Maestra Rosalind Erwin, who is Music Director and Conductor of Drexel University Orchestra. Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO), directed by Maestro Kenneth Bean, is a beginning to intermediate-level full symphonic orchestra that provides most students with their first introduction to large orchestral playing featuring students age 10-17 years old. Bravo Brass, directed by Curtis Institute Dean of Faculty and Students, Paul Bryan, is an all brass ensemble for promising middle and high-school instrumentalists. PRYSM (Philadelphia Region Youth String Music) and PRYSM Young Artists ensembles provide string large ensemble and sectional master class instruction for beginning and intermediate musicians ages 6-14. The director and conductor of PRYSM is Gloria DePasquale, cellist with The Philadelphia Orchestra, and conductor of PRYSM Young Artists is Andrea Weber. Tune Up Philly (TUP) is PYO's engagement program, directed by Paul Smith, that focuses on creating and inspiring true community by providing children in under-resourced communities with invaluable opportunities to learn and perform a differentiated orchestral music curriculum.

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