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

Maureen Hickey Haitch (“hey-ch”, she/her) is a conductor, violinist, and violist born and based in Cincinnati, OH. Maureen currently works as a staff conductor with the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance where she directs the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and Dayton Philharmonic Youth Strings. In addition, Maureen acts as Cover and Guest Conductor for the Cincinnati Community Orchestra. Maureen has guest conducted the Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and will debut with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra in April 2026 for Carnegie Hall’s Link Up: The Orchestra Swings! 

Previously, Maureen was Adjunct Professor and Director of Chamber Orchestra at Xavier University and Assistant Conductor of the Muncie Symphony Orchestra. Before moving back to Cincinnati, Maureen worked as Assistant Director of the Youth Symphony Orchestras of East Central Indiana in Muncie, IN, where she conducted the Youth Symphony, taught beginner private and group violin, viola, and cello lessons, coached chamber ensembles, and led an after-school music program for children with socioeconomic instability through Motivate Our Minds. As a graduate assistant, she taught undergraduate conducting and string technique courses, and conducted Ball State University’s Campus Orchestra and New Music Ensemble. 

As a freelance violinist and violist, Maureen performs regularly with the Richmond (IN) Symphony Orchestra, Springfield (OH) Symphony Orchestra, and Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. She has performed as a violinist with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and for Andrea Bocelli’s 30th Anniversary Tour at the Heritage Bank Arena in Cincinnati, OH.

Maureen earned dual Master’s degrees in Orchestral Conducting and Violin Performance from Ball State University in Muncie, IN, as well as a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Miami University of Ohio. She has participated in music festivals and conducting workshops throughout the United States and in Perugia, Italy under conductors and pedagogues such as Markand Thakar, JoAnn Falletta, Robert Moody, Kalena Bovell, Janna Hymes, and Aik Khai Pung. 

Rehearsals

Dayton Philharmonic Youth Strings members rehearse every Sunday, September through March from 1:30 – 4 pm.

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
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
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
Mascagni – Intermezzo Sinfonico from Cavalleria Rusticana
Mendelssohn – Sinfonia No.8 in D major
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
Verdi – La Traviata, Preludes Act I and III
Vivaldi – Concerto in D minor for Strings
Warlock – Capriol Suite