Phila. Youth Orchestra Students Recognized in 2017-2018 All-City Concerto Competition

The students of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) organization continue to stand out for their talent. All eight finalists, and the first place winner, of the 2018 School District of Philadelphia's All-City Concerto Competition are current PYO members. 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.

First Place Winner, Young Young Wang, is a 17 year old cellist in PYO, a senior at the Creative and Performing Arts High school (CAPA), and resides in South Philadelphia. He will perform the first movement of Dvorak's Cello Concerto at the All-City Concert on Thursday, March 15 at 7 p.m. in Verizon Hall of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

Louis Scaglione, President and Music Director of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) organization, was thrilled to learn that many PYO students were honored. He said, "We are always proud of the students in our PYO ensembles who participate in the School District of Philadelphia's All-City Music Programs, and this year even more because the first place winner and all finalists are current members of the PYO organization. Our students are very dedicated to music and I am always impressed by their motivation to succeed. I congratulate all of this year's participants and extend an extra salute to First Place Winner Young Young Wang."

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

FIRST PLACE WINNER

Young Young Wang, cello, 17, PYO, 12th grade at Creative and Performing Arts High School, lives in South Philadelphia

RUNNERS-UP

1st PLACE:

Nathan Kim, 17, Cello, PYO, 12th grade at Masterman, lives in North Philadelphia

2nd PLACE:

Akili Farrow, 18, PYO, Violin, 12th grade String Theory High School, lives in Southwest Philadelphia

3rd PLACE:

David Hiester, 17, PYO, Bassoon, 12th grade Central High School, lives in West Philadelphia /Univ. City

4TH PLACE:

Marquise Lindsey Bradley, clarinet, 17, PYO, 11th grade at Creative and Performing Arts High School, lives in North Philadelphia

Na-Zir McFadden, clarinet, 17, PYAO, 12th grade at Lincoln High School, lives in Northeast Philadelphia

HONORABLE MENTION (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER):
Malique Bennett, trombone, 17 years old, PYMO, 12th grade at Creative and Performing Arts High School, lives in South Philadelphia

Gregory Padilla, double bass, 17 years old, PYO, 11th grade at Creative and Performing Arts High School, lives in Northeast Philadelphia

Derrick Pondexter, violin, 18 years old, PYMO, 12th 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 78th 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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