Symphonette members are generally from the greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area and from as far as West Virginia and Ohio. While auditions are based on playing level and not age, most students are between 11-16 years old, with some younger and some older students.

Pierce Cook is the conductor of Symphonette. See Artistic Staff for more information about Mr. Cook. 

Students break out into monthly sectionals to focus on technique and their individual parts. Symphonette coaching staff is drawn from members of the Pittsburgh Symphony and other professional local teaching artists. See Artistic Staff for more information about Symphonette’s artistic staff.

Contraporktus is the official unofficial mascot of Symphonette! Tune in to Instagram to see rehearsals, concerts, and SYM behind the scenes from the Contraporktus porkspective.

Symphonette typically performs two to four concerts a year, depending on the season. Performances have taken place at Carnegie Music Hall of Oakland, Heinz Hall, the Pittsburgh Playhouse and other local schools.

Symphonette rehearses on Saturday mornings from 9:30 AM -12:00 PM at the Mary Pappert School of Music, Duquesne University. We are pleased to offer a rehearsal venue at a convenient uptown location centrally located for families in the greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

We are SO happy to announce that our season starter retreat is back! Mini-Camp is an intensive retreat with TRYPO artistic and administrative staff, as well as TRYPO parent chaperones, where members will dig in on the season’s repertoire and spend some time getting to know each other as well! Mini-Camp is typically held at Ligonier Camp on Labor Day Weekend for YPO and Symphonette Members. Attendance is mandatory.

TRYPO believes that performing while traveling uniquely cements a student’s relationship with music and strives for its large ensembles to travel every three years. The 2014-15 season was a travel year for Symphonette, which had a day trip to the Chautauqua Institute. During the 2017-18 season, Symphonette participated in a dual exchange with the Youth Philharmonic from the DC Youth Orchestra program. In the 2022-23 Season, Symphonette and Wind Symphony travelled to Washington DC to work with members of military ensembles and perform a local concert. There is an extra fee for travel opportunities in addition to regular tuition, but scholarship and fund-raising opportunities for student fees are also available. All Symphonette students are expected and encouraged to travel with Symphonette during a travel season. However, with proper notice, permission to miss the trip may be granted without jeopardizing the student’s membership in the orchestra.

Symphonette has auditions every May/June for entry to the next season. Visit the Join Us page for more information on joining Symphonette and current openings (if any).

• Grieg – Holberg Suite
• Gershwin – Lullaby for Strings
• Neidhold – Map’s End

2022-23 Season:

• Repetto – La Chicharra
• Simpson – Three Rivers Rhapsody (commission)
• Britten – Simple Symphony
• High Rise – Gordon

2021-22 Season:

• Ishizaki – Miniatures (commission)
• Mozart – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
• Mendelssohn – String Symphony No. 1 in C Major 
• Newbold – The Odyssey (Journey of Odysseus)

2020-21 Season:

• Wenrich – Red Rose Rag
• Mozart – Divertimento in D Major
• Pachelbel – Canon in D