American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras
Training the creative minds of the future
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Orchestral Training Program
One of the nation's leading youth orchestra organizations, AYPO administers 7 orchestras for 600 students ages 7 to 19:
American Youth Philharmonic
American Youth Symphonic Orchestra
American Youth Concert Orchestra
American Youth Sinfonietta
American Youth String Ensemble
American Youth Debut Orchestra
American Youth Prelude Strings
Nearly 70% of AYPO students identify as people of color, and this diversity is reflected in our audiences. 41% are bilingual or trilingual. They communicate in 24 different languages at home.
Need-based tuition assistance is provided for all offerings. Students progress through the increasing levels of difficulty of our orchestras. Over 9 months, they attend weekly 60- to 150-minute rehearsals with their conductor and participate in sectionals with top music educators, including National Symphony Orchestra members. AYPO ensembles perform at the DC region’s major concert halls. Many alumni pursue orchestral studies at top colleges and conservatories.
Chamber Ensemble Program and Junior Chamber Ensemble Program
Promising musicians who participate in our most advanced youth orchestras are invited to join our Chamber Ensemble Program. Each year, AYPO forms four to eight chamber ensembles – a mix of strings, woodwinds, brass and harp, with some ensembles including a pianist. The Ensemble da Camera of Washington, an acclaimed clarinet, piano, and violin/viola trio, serves as our artists-in-residence, coaching each student ensemble throughout the year; leading free, public master classes in which the AYPO chamber ensembles perform and receive critiques; and presenting public concerts.
Our Junior Chamber Ensemble Program, led by National Symphony Orchestra violist Tsuna Sakamoto and NSO cellist Loewi Lin, extends the benefits of studying chamber music to students from AYPO's entry-level orchestras. Students from both programs present free community outreach concerts and recitals. In 2016, members of our Chamber Ensemble Program performed at a White House State Dinner.
Music Buddies Mentorship Program
Through the Music Buddies Mentorship Program, advanced AYPO musicians (the mentors) provide economically disadvantaged elementary and middle school students (the mentees) in Alexandria City Public Schools and Fairfax County Public Schools with more than 1,000 free music lessons each school year. Weekly private lessons are offered on-site at mentees’ schools and other central locations.
Mentees receive fundamental training, including developing or improving technique on their instrument, learning scales, acquiring knowledge of basic music theory, and understanding how to sight read. Under the tutelage of their mentors, mentees learn solo works by Bach, Handel, Schumann, Telemann, Vivaldi and other masters, and perform in a culminating recital. All mentees receive the necessary musical equipment, along with complimentary tickets to AYPO’s full season of concerts.
Mentees are encouraged to audition for AYPO's youth orchestras, and tuition assistance is provided for qualified families.
Instrumental Ensembles
AYPO offers instrumental ensembles for clarinet, flute, harp and percussion. As part of our commitment to expanding access to more participants, AYPO's clarinet, flute and harp ensembles are open to all youth, not just AYPO members. Students learn from outstanding professional musicians and perform community outreach concerts for underserved residents.
Where we work
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Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras
Board of directorsas of 08/30/2023
Ambassador (ret.) Allan Mustard
Caspian Policy Center
Robert Sollinger, Vice President, Operations
Studio Director, Gensler
Ben Baldanza, Vice President, Finance
Former CEO, Spirit Airlines
Suzanne Mucchetti, Secretary
Former Attorney, Weiner, Brodsky, Sidman & Kider
William Hong, Past President
Institute for Defense Analyses
Marcia Baldanza
Professor, Marymount University
Grace Chang
Musician, Teacher and Personal Chef/Caterer
Nina Federoff
Professor Emerita, Pennsylvania State University
Karen J. Leyva
Leyva Strategies, LLC
Ann Mustard
Former CBS News Radio Correspondent
Patti Reid
Civic Leader
Chris Sanchez
Director, Capitol City Strings, LLC
John Schnitker
Retired Attorney
Marty K. Smith
Chief Operating Officer, Fairfax County Public Schools
Brad W. Spencer
Attorney
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data