Since 1970, over 1700 of the Rochester area's most talented young musicians have experienced the challenges, rewards and joys of learning symphonic masterworks while playing in the RPYO.
These musicians devote themselves to rehearsing and performing great music throughout the school year. In the process they build not only excellent musical skills but also develop lifelong habits of teamwork, diligence, responsibility, and a commitment to the arts.
RPYO alumni currently perform with major symphony orchestras, including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra and other professional ensembles here and abroad.
Hundreds of other RPYO alumni have become teachers of music or dedicated amateur musicians and supporters of local arts institutions.
The RPYO was founded in 1970 by the Women's Committee of the Civic Music Association, the predecessor of the RPO, following many years of its sponsorship of annual youth music festivals. It celebrated its 40th Anniversary during its 2010-2011 season.
The RPYO is sponsored by the Education Department of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. RPO musicians regularly share their talents with RPYO students as Mentors and Sectional Coaches and join the RPYO in an Annual Joint RPYO/RPO concert in Eastman Theatre's Kodak Hall.
Howard Weiss, then concertmaster of the RPO, was the RPYO's founding music director from 1970 - 1989, followed by Darryl One. Since 1993 David Harman has been RPYO music director and conductor.
The RPYO presents three concerts each year and frequently performs in special outreach events.
Approximately 100 middle and high school students from over thirty schools in the Rochester metropolitan area and surrounding communities participate each year in the RPYO, rehearsing every Sunday afternoon at Apollo Middle School in Greece.
To further its educational and musical goals, the RPYO has organized various tours over the years. Under the musical leadership of David Harman, it has performed in England (1995), Germany (1998), and France (2001), Italy (2004), Poland, Slovakia and Hungary (2007), and Canada's Québec Province (2010).
The RPYO has taken part in youth orchestra festivals and exchanges and has appeared on videotaped programs for PBS, Eastman Kodak, Rochester's public television station WXXI- Channel 21, and Young Audiences, Inc. Its performances have been broadcast live on occasion over Rochester's public radio station WXXI-FM 91.5. In the fall of 2011, it was featured on WXXI-FM's live performing arts program "Backstage Pass".
