The Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (DPYO), Dayton Philharmonic Youth Strings (DPYS), and Dayton Philharmonic Junior Strings (DPJS) are the three youth orchestras of the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. The orchestras are supported by Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Association of Parents and Friends for each orchestra, and by the Dayton Philharmonic Volunteer Association. DPYO, DPYS, and DPJS are affiliated with the Youth Division of the League of American Orchestras.

The youth orchestras are committed to inspiring an overall cultural awareness and appreciation of music in its members and audiences, strengthening our region’s existing school music programs, and helping stimulate interest in the development of school orchestral programs where none exist.

DPYO was founded in 1937 by Paul Katz, and brings together the greater Dayton area’s most gifted young orchestral musicians, providing the opportunity to study and perform a broad range of orchestral repertoire. 

The DPYO performs three concerts each season and was invited to perform at the 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2014 Ohio Music Education Association conferences. The Youth Orchestra regularly appears on the Dayton Philharmonic’s DP&L Family Concert Series, which has included collaborations with Cirque de la Symphonie, Zoot Theatre, the Dayton Ballet II Senior Company, performance artist Dan Kamin, and the Magic Circle Mime Company.

DPYS was established in September 1982 with the support of Mrs. Virginia Kettering, and the purpose of the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Strings is to provide advanced musical experience for string students.  Members of the DPYS are selected through annual auditions open to all string students in grades 6 through 12.

 

As the youngest orchestra of the three, DPJS began in the fall of 2014 and was created in response to requests from string teachers and music educators for an orchestra to encourage young string students who are not quite ready for DPYS or DPYO. Members of the Dayton Philharmonic Junior Strings are selected through annual auditions open to all string students in grades 4–8.

 

 

 

To learn more about the youth orchestras and the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, please visit:
http://www.daytonperformingarts.org/