Youth Chamber Connection

Program Description: Youth Chamber Connection (YC²) offers chamber music education, enrichment, and community-service performance opportunities for members of Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras (TRYPO), the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra (PYSO), and other interested young musicians. YC² is administrated by TRYPO staff. All musicians approximately ages 8-19 are welcome to apply, regardless of your music program affiliation.

Placement: We make every effort to place all interested musicians in a suitable chamber group (most often quartets and quintets), provided there are other interested students of a similar age, playing level, schedule availability, and appropriate instrumentation. Space is available until all chamber groups are complete but register by September 10, 2023 for the best chance of placement.

Coaches: Our coaching team includes members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra, New World Symphony, and Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh.

Performances: We are excited to have our students out performing in their communities again! Everything from pop-up concerts, recitals, Light Up Night performances, and many others give our students the experience and education needed to learn and hone their skills.

Rehearsals: Groups meet 45 minutes with their coach each week, plus most groups also rehearse another 45 minutes on their own, strengthening their skills in leadership, listening, cooperation, and learning to make their own musical decisions.

YC² coachings/rehearsals are scheduled at a convenient time for all members of the group. Students with a variety of availability in their weekly schedule have the best chance of being well-matched into a chamber group.

Auditions: No entrance auditions are necessary, YC² welcomes young musicians at all playing levels who have adequate skills for ensemble work. Students are asked to complete the registration form, plus email a video or link to a video of yourself playing solo to staff@youthchamberconnection.org in order to place you in a group.

Students who have recently submitted a video audition to TRYPO to be considered for membership in YPO, Wind Symphony, or Symphonette do not need to submit a video. Video on file must be from spring 2023 auditions or later.

Videos enable our staff to match compatible students together and for coaches to choose repertoire. Choose something you are confident playing, one to three minutes in length. A casual, home-video recorded with your phone is all we need. Ensure lighting is adequate and the students’ arms, instrument, embouchure, if applicable, are in view. Please send the video as soon as possible after completing your registration.

Tuition:

For more information, please visit YC²’s website, www.youthchamberconnection.org.