Young Peoples Orchestra

To celebrate Women’s History Month, we are highlighting all the amazing women composers that have works included in our 2022-23 season. Learn more about Yukiko Nishimura, Jessie Montgomery, Julie Giroux, and Valerie Coleman: Yukiko Nishimura, Composer/Pianist, was born in Japan. She graduated from the Tokyo University of Arts in 1990. In 1991, she began private study with Dr. Alfred Reed at the University of Miami, and in 1993 she continued her studies with Dr. Richard Danielpour at the Manhattan School of Music. Among her honors is a special mention at the 15th and 26th International Competition for Original Band Composition …

Congratulations to Bridget Yun, the 2022-23 Young Peoples Orchestra Concerto Competition winner! Bridget will perform “Polonaise de concert” by David Popper at TRYPO’s spring concert on Saturday, May 7, 2023, at Carnegie Music Hall of Oakland. We also wish to congratulate all of our musicians who competed! Keep reading to learn more about Bridget and the competition experience: Q: How long have you studied the cello? I picked up the cello when I was three years old (although I spent the first two years learning how to read notes), so I am coming up on thirteen years. Q: Why did …

Join us for, A Whole New World: Magical Music from the Silver Screen, featuring Pittsburgh Youth Chorus and YPO of Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras! This super-extra-special-collaborative performance takes place on Sunday, February 26, 2023, at 3:30 PM at North Hills Middle School. We packed the program with our favorite music from Disney films, including Mary Poppins, Frozen, Aladdin, and more! We’ll perform classics from John Williams to Alan Menken to Elton John and can’t wait for you to smile along (and maybe sing along) with the beautiful music from these prolific movie music composers! Tickets are free general admission, but please register in advance.

February is Black History Month, and to celebrate, we are highlighting all the fantastic Black composers that have works included in our 2022-23 season. Learn more about Anthony Barfield, Valerie Coleman, Katahj Copley, Adrian Gordon, and Jessie Montgomery:  As part of our winter concert series, Young Peoples Orchestra (YPO) performed “Invictus for Brass” by Anthony Barfield. Barfield is a producer and composer based in New York City. Known for his lyrical writing style, his compositions have been performed throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. As a former trombonist, he has performed at halls such as Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, …

Did you know that September 15 through October 15 is Hispanic Heritage month? To celebrate, we highlighted some Hispanic composers and the pieces that TRYPO ensembles are preparing to perform this winter. Our 2022-23 season theme is “Music of the Americas,” so works by Hispanic composers will be heard throughout the year. Learn more about Manuel de Falla, Arturo Márquez, and Carlos Gardel: Young Peoples Orchestra (YPO) will perform Manuel de Falla’s “Tres Picos Sombreros” at the Winter Concert on December 5, 2022, at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. Manuel is a very well-known Spanish composer and pianist. He was …

              We love hearing from our alums about what they’ve been up to since their time in TRYPO! Today we feature cellist Marissa Muth! Read all about Marissa’s time in TRYPO and what she is doing now: Marissa started playing cello at the age of four and immediately developed a passion for the instrument. She served as principal and assistant principal cellist of TRYPO’s YPO ensemble during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. Marissa grew up in the North Hills area of Pittsburgh and attended Vincentian Academy High School. She attended Case Western Reserve University …

This past June, our TRYPO musicians finally got to travel to New York on our Conquer Carnegie Tour and attend the French Woods Festival stay-away camp, followed by a performance at Carnegie Hall. While we loved to provide this opportunity for our musicians, it is even better to hear how meaningful the experience was for them after having to wait so long to go because of the pandemic. Wesley, a percussionist in our Young Peoples Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble, writes about his time on the trip and why it meant so much to him. After the rise of COVID, our plans …