Last edited: 01/20/2008

PYS Mission Statement

The mission of the Phoenix Youth Symphony is to develop educational, cultural and orchestral training programs to enhance musical ability and technical skills in young instrumentalists and to encourage the appreciation of classical music in the community.  These objectives are met through the study and performance of symphonic literature by those involved in the Guild’s “stair-step” instrumental ensembles, through Master Classes taught by professional musicians, through weekend retreats and intensives, through competition/scholarship opportunities, through Music Memory’s program designed to promote within the schools the study and appreciation of classical music and through performance tours and reciprocal exchange programs with other student ensembles.

A primary goal of the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestral Training Program is to stimulate talented young instrumentalists and challenge them to refine their musical talents by working together to create a total ensemble, without regard to individual differences in other areas.  All policies, activities, rehearsals and performances are carefully planned to reflect this philosophy and help enrich each member musically and culturally.

History and Development of PYS Youth Division

When the Phoenix Youth Symphony was organized in 1947, its dual purpose was helping to form a community orchestra called “The Phoenix Symphony” and raising funds to support that orchestra.  The Youth Orchestra was founded in 1952 primarily to train young musicians for The Phoenix Symphony.  As the numbers of students auditioning increased, the Guild decided to form a second youth orchestra in 1955, the Symphonette Orchestra.  The PYS Youth Orchestra accepted musicians primarily of high school age; the new Symphonette Orchestra trained young musicians primarily of junior high level.  Various other PYS-sponsored ensembles were short-lived at that time, but Junior Strings, added in 1966 was retained through the 1991-92 season giving beginning string players an opportunity to participate and learn basic orchestral skills. 

When the Phoenix Symphony became a major orchestra in the early 1980’s, the Phoenix Symphony Guild separated from The Phoenix Symphony to support the Youth Division, particularly the youth orchestras, the Music Memory Program, and the Young Musicians’ Competition.  By the end of the 1991-1992 season, both the Symphonette Orchestra and Youth Orchestra had evolved into full symphonic, performing orchestras with approximately 100 members each.  Answering the need for more advanced preparation of strings for Symphonette and Youth Orchestra, in September 1992, Junior Strings evolved into the String Orchestra, no longer admitting beginners.  The Symphonic Winds was added to further woodwind, brass and percussion students’ solo and ensemble orchestral skills.

Orchestral Training

Conducted by professional musicians, renowned for their expertise in conducting and teaching orchestral skills, the Guild’s four “stair-step” instrumental ensembles offer outstanding learning and performance opportunities in a professional setting at a minimal cost to student participants.  Over three hundred students in fifth through twelfth grades are selected each year through audition to study and perform symphonic literature in the PYS String Orchestra, Symphonic Winds, Symphonette Orchestra and Youth Orchestra.  In addition to weekly rehearsals, all PYS students benefit from the expertise of professional musicians in a “hands on” situation through Master Classes, sectionals, clinics and weekend retreats.  Each year these young musicians delight fifteen to twenty thousand audience members of all ages who enjoy the highest quality of classical music performance throughout Arizona.

Musical and cultural education is enhanced through performance tours and reciprocal exchange programs with other student ensembles.  In the last twelve years, PYS orchestras have received local, national and international recognition for excellence and have performed by invitation through Arizona, in California, at Carnegie Hall in New York, in Germany, France, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Austria, Hungary, New Zealand, and England.