Peninsula Youth Orchestras

Mission: The Peninsula Youth Orchestra reflects and enhances the cultural diversity of its community as it brings together student musicians to rehearse and perform symphonic music in an education setting.  PYO strives for a balance of high musical standards within a supportive environment while encouraging students' enthusiasm, knowledge, and love of music.  PYO is committed to enriching the lives of its students as they progress at their own pace through a challenging course of repertoire, thus preparing them with skills needed to enjoy music the rest of their lives.

The PYO Experience: The Peninsula Youth Orchestra, now serving over 400 musicians in four orchestras and several chamber groups, offers weekly instruction in orchestral training at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels.  All musicians study the traditional orchestral repertoire with an emphasis on contemporary literature and works by American composers.

The Sinfonia Musica, Orchestra Nova, and Young Artists Preparatory Orchestras are directed by Sara Salsbury with the assistance of Troy Davis (woodwind specialist), Don Couch (brass specialist), Peter Thielen (percussion ensemble), and Barbara Bateman (woodwind specialist emeritus).

The Peninsula Youth Orchestra is conducted by Mitchell Sardou Klein.  PYO section coaches are Ryo Fukuda, violin; Patricia Whaley, viola; Janet Witham, 'cello; Chris Crews, bass; Troy Davis, woodwinds; Don Couch, brass; and Peter Thielen, percussion.  PYO members are eligible to compete in the annual Concerto Competition in which two or three winners perform with the PYO during the course of the season.

The Peninsula Youth Orchestra and the Preparatory orchestras regularly perform works commissioned by and composed for the PYO, by PYO Composer-In-Residence Ron Miller, and other contemporary composers.

The Peninsula Youth Orchestra was awarded the prestigious ASCAP Award for "Adventurous Programming of American Music on Foreign Tours" for their highly successful Japan Tour during June, 1999.  The second international tour, to New Zealand and Australia in the summer of 2001, culminated with performances in the world-famous Sydney Opera House as part of the invitational Australian International Music Festival.  PYO was awarded "Showcase Status" by the festival.  In the summer of 2003, the PYO participated in the European Youth Orchestra Festival in Northern Italy! In 2005, the PYO performed in Northern Spain and Southern France, and in 2007, PYO performed in Vienna, Budapest, and Prague. The PYA began touring in 2004, with a performance in Carnegie Hall. In 2006, the PYA played in Salzburg and Vienna, and in 2008, the PYA will tour China.

Chamber Music: As an outgrowth of its successful summer camp chamber music programs, PYO now offers chamber music during the regular season.  Musicians currently enrolled in the PYO orchestras may also enroll in chamber music (reduced fee) and musicians may audition for and join just the chamber music program for an annual fee.