Young People’s Philharmonic

Jordan Randall Smith , Music Director

The Young People’s Philharmonic is a full symphony orchestra, open to string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instrumentalists in grades 9-12.  Students rehearse on Tuesday evenings for 2.25 hours, from September through May.  Downbeat is at 6:15pm.  Sectional rehearsals are held several times each semester, where students are divided into strings and winds, or into smaller groups where they will rehearse with professional coaches appropriate for their instrument.

The YPP performs entirely from original symphonic scores, and it is expected that students will practice their parts outside of rehearsal time.  Students must master their own parts and, by playing and listening in rehearsal, learn how their parts contribute to the composition as a whole.

Each semester culminates in a final concert in December and May.  In addition, for the signature School Tour, the students spend a day traveling to local middle and high schools, performing assemblies and sharing sharing their talents with their peers around the Lehigh Valley.  These concerts help promote classical music education and appreciation among the younger generations. Other performances may be scheduled throughout the year.

Finally, a highlight of the spring semester is the Senior Concerto Competition. YPP members who are high school seniors may audition in front of a panel of professional musicians, playing one movement of a concerto of their choosing from memory.  The winner performs the concerto with the orchestra at the Spring Concert.