GENERAL INFORMATION

The Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra (TPYO) offers a professional-level symphonic training program for serious and career-oriented pre-college musicians. Founded in 1953, the Tucson Philharmonia provides the opportunity for the finest high school-age players from throughout the Tucson metropolitan area and other Southern Arizona communities to learn professional performance skills and to perform exciting symphonic literature in a wide range of styles from standard classical masterworks to repertoire from Broadway, opera, film, jazz, and ballet.

The Philharmonia's challenging program places you among a select group of highly motivated musicians and offers an exceptional level of musical training which includes full orchestra and sectional rehearsals, personalized coaching sessions, and concert performances.

The Tucson Philharmonia's members are among the most honored young musicians in Southern Arizona. Ninety-four of the 2006-2007 Philharmonia's members participated in the 2007 Regional Honor Orchestras and Bands and thirty-four members won 2007 Arizona All-State honors. Tucson Philharmonia members won awards at numerous music competitions, appearing as soloists with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Pops Orchestra, and Civic Orchestra of Tucson, and other Southern Arizona ensembles. In addition, many members were the recipients of scholarships to top universities and summer music programs.

The Tucson Philharmonia is nationally recognized among the country's foremost symphonic training programs, and it has been awarded the Arizona Music Educators Association's Raymond G. Van Diest Arts Advocacy Award for its outstanding artistry and outreach efforts across the state of Arizona. In addition, the Tucson Philharmonia made history in 2000, becoming the first and only Arizona orchestra to produce and present a concert at New York's famed Carnegie Hall.

The 2007-2008 Philharmonia's schedule will include concert performances, intensive training retreat, concert performances, a tour to San Diego for activities with the San Diego Symphony and the San Diego Youth Orchestra, and the Philharmonia Scholarship Competition culminating in the Philharmonia Young Artists Showcase.

Students who are already heavily involved with other musical groups, sports teams, jobs, or other extracurricuar activities on Saturdays and who are unable to commit to the Philharmonia's 2007-2008 schedule (listed on the Program Information page) should NOT apply for membership. Because of the limited number of meetings and the challenging level of the Philharmonia program, a strict attendance policy will be enforced.

Philharmonia Mission Statement

Brief History

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