Alumni

As we mark a significant milestone in the history of the Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras (TRYPO), we invite you to join us in celebrating our 50th anniversary! For half a century, TRYPO has been dedicated to nurturing the talents of young musicians, providing them with the resources, guidance, and opportunities to excel in their musical journeys. To commemorate this special occasion, we’ve created a special anniversary video that showcases the incredible journey we’ve embarked on together. From humble beginnings to becoming a vital part of Pittsburgh’s cultural fabric, our story is one of passion, dedication, and the transformative power …

We love hearing from our alums about what they’ve been up to since their time in TRYPO! Today we feature trumpet player, Kevin Skinkis! We’re so proud of his accomplishments!! Read all about Kevin’s time in TRYPO and what he is doing now: Kevin joined TRYPO in 2015 and played in our ensembles until the 2016-17 season. Kevin is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music with a Masters of Music studying under Michael Sachs, principal trumpet, Cleveland Orchestra. Currently, he is  pursuing a Graduate Diploma Degree at CIM and frequently appears with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Louisville …

As Giving Tuesday approaches, we love hearing from TRYPO alumni about their fondest memories of playing in our ensembles. Today, we hear from TRYPO alum, Sarah Palermo:  TRYPO has a special place in my heart, and I truly believe it has shaped my life in so many ways. I joined Symphonette as a violinist in the 9th grade, and in the following years participated in YPO and YC2 until I graduated high school in 2018. I had always loved playing my instrument at school, but playing with groups of advanced musicians and performing challenging repertoire was eye-opening. These experiences ignited …

We love hearing from our alums about what they’ve been up to since their time in TRYPO! Today we feature cellist, Elizabeth Oaks! We’re so proud of her accomplishments!! Read all about Elizabeth’s time in TRYPO and what she is doing now: Elizabeth joined TRYPO in 2001 and played in TRYPO until the 2003-04 season. Elizabeth received her undergraduate degree at Baldwin Wallace Music Conservatory for Music Education and then earned a second degree in Veterinary Technology from Northern Virginia Community College. Elizabeth worked for Fairfax County Public Schools as an orchestra teacher before she started her career as a …

We love hearing from our alums about what they’ve been up to since their time in TRYPO! Today we feature tuba player, Russ Pedersen! We’re so proud of his accomplishments!! Read all about Russ’ time in TRYPO and what he is doing now: Russ joined TRYPO in 1980 and played in TRYPO until the 1982-83 season. Russ received his undergraduate degree at Duquesne University and his master’s at Carnegie Mellon University. Both a musician and educator, Russ has performed around the country and in Scotland and Canada with such ensembles as the American Wind Symphony Orchestra, the River City Brass …

We love hearing from our alums about what they’ve been up to since their time in TRYPO! Today we feature flutist Celeste Simpson! We’re so proud of her accomplishments!! Read all about Celeste’s time in TRYPO and what she is doing now: Celeste joined TRYPO in 2010 and played in TRYPO until the 2011-12 season. After she graduated from high school, Celeste attended Seton Hill University to earn a degree in Music Therapy. She then earned her Master’s in Music Therapy from Slippery Rock University. Celeste is a current doctoral student at Chatham University in their Doctor of Psychology in …

We love hearing from our alums about what they’ve been up to since their time in TRYPO! Today we feature cellist, Dennis Persin! We’re so proud of his accomplishments!! Read all about Dennis’ time in TRYPO and what he is doing now: Dennis joined TRYPO in 1996 and played in TRYPO until the 1999-2000 season. After he graduated from high school, Dennis attended Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music to earn a degree in Music Education. He then earned his Master’s in Education Curriculum Instruction and Design from St. Vincent College. Now, Dennis is a Gateway School District music teacher and …