About the Orchestra

The Dayton Philharmonic Youth Strings was established in 1982 with the support of Mrs. Virginia Kettering, to provide musical enrichment and advanced concert experience for string students in grade 6-12. The ensemble is comprised of 65 students representing homeschools and 26 different schools from the greater Dayton area.

Students in the Youth Strings will perform challenging original string literature. Regularly performing Winter and Fall concerts, DPYS often performs additional concerts throughout the year for senior centers and at community events.

About the Conductor

Jordan Millard is the conductor of the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Strings, part of the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance (DPAA). He serves as a Strings Specialist with Centerville City Schools, working with students in grades 6–12, and sits on the Ohio Music Education Association board as the Southwest Region Chair. Alongside his work in education, he performs professionally with the Gibbons String Quartet and maintains an active freelance career as a violinist and violist throughout the greater Dayton and Cincinnati area.

His previous conducting experience includes leading the Springfield Youth Orchestra in Springfield, Ohio leading original works such as the Barber of Seville, Lalo Symphony Espagnole, Mozart’s Magic Flute Overture and others. He has also appeared as a guest conductor with the University of Dayton Symphony Orchestra. Jordan is from the Dayton, Ohio area and has worked with the DPAA over the years which includes coaching and leading string sectionals and rehearsals for both the Youth Strings and Youth Orchestra programs, along with collaborations with the Giving Strings charity ensemble in Oakwood, Ohio.

In the classroom with Centerville City Schools, Jordan believes all young musicians can have incredible musical experiences at the beginner instructional level through advanced high school performance. Jordan is committed to building a positive rapport and high expectations with students which drives and shapes his teaching, helping students develop both strong technical skills and musical confidence.

Jordan holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Rehearsals

Dayton Philharmonic Youth Strings members rehearse every Sunday, September through March.

Radio Broadcasts

Our performances are broadcast on WDPR 88.1 FM and WDPG 89.9 FM. Visit On The Air for a schedule of all DPAA broadcasts.

Eligibility

Applicant must be a student in grades 6–12 and be a member of a school music organization playing the same instrument as is played in the Youth Strings. If there is no school orchestra or band, an exception may be made.

Recent Repertoire Performed by the DPYS

Anderson – Sleigh Ride 
Bartok – Rumanian Folk Dances
Beethoven – Quartet in C minor, Op. 18, No. 4
Bernstein, Leonard – “America” from West Side Story
Boyce – Symphony No. 1 in B flat
Brahms – Hungarian Dance No. 5
Britten – Simple Symphony
Byrd – Consort Song: Come Jolly Swains
Coleridge-Taylor – Four Noveletten for Strings, Op. 52
Corelli – Concerto Grosso No. 4 in D major
Corelli – La Follia Variations
Dvorak, Antonin – Themes from “American Quartet”
Elgar, Serenade for Strings
Gardel – Tango “Por una cabeza”
Glass – Company No. 2
Grieg – Holberg Suite, Op. 40
Grieg – Peer Gynt Suite No. 1
Grieg – Two Norwegian Airs, Op. 63
Handel – Concerto Grosso, Op. 6, No. 11
Hovhaness – Psalm and Fugue, Op. 40a
Lili’uokalani – Fantasy on Aloha ‘Oe
Mascagni – Intermezzo Sinfonico from Cavalleria Rusticana
Mendelssohn – Sinfonia No.8 in D major
Meyer, Richard – Yakama Variants
Monti – Czardas
Mozart – Dance Suite
Mozart – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525
Mozart – Overture from The Magic Flute
Parry – An English Suite
Purcell – Incidental music for strings for Abdelazer or The Moor’s Revenge
Saint-Saëns – Pieces from Carnival of the Animals
Shore – Highlights from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Stamitz – Mannheim Sinfonia #1 in G Maojr
Still – Danzas de Panama
Stone – Miniature String Quartet No. 3
Strauss – Emperor Waltz
Tchaikovsky – Selections from The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky – Serenade for Strings Op. 48, II. Waltz
Telemann – Concerto in G major for Viola and Strings
Traditional (arr. Chris Thomas) – La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)
Verdi – La Traviata, Preludes Act I and III
Vivaldi – Concerto in D minor for Strings
Warlock – Capriol Suite