PYO's award winning graphic designer Gregory Paone and his fiancée, Dr. Emmie Chen

We held the release of March's Cadenza so that we could bring you news from the Annual Gala. Thank you, everyone who helped to make the evening an incredible success.  Between the sponsorships and silent auction, nearly $80,000 was raised for the PYO program.

Citizens Bank, The Presser Foundation, and Alison and Ravi Kothare were recognized for their support of PYO over the past year.

Many guests were able to try their hands (and feet) at Salsa dancing, following a demonstration and lesson from our guest instructors.

PYO wishes to extend special thanks to board members and Gala Co-chairs Kathryn Warhol and Elizabeth Albert for their monumental time and expertise.

Click here for a photo gallery of the evening.

We featured a letter from William Binkley in Noteworthy (PDF), the 2006 annual newsletter, regarding the PYO tour to China in 1985. Last week we received an email from Kathleen Donahue (horn, 82-84) that helped shed some light on the "unknown conductor" William mentioned:

After reading William's letter today I had to follow up on his comments about the China tour!
 
I, too, remember the collection for the student conductor, Bob, on the China Tour in 1985. "Bob" was Robert Spano who, I am happy to report, is no longer a starving artist. After his tenure as the Music Director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, where he brought that orchestra to even more recognition and greater musical heights, Bob is now the Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. [Click for biography]

I remember Bob on that tour as a great conductor and also a great guy. He was so much fun to work with and we all loved him.
 
I also remember that hot flight from Beijing. We were served green tea, the plane creaked, and I was terrified! I was very happy to take trains and buses in China after that.

Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 8:00 p.m.
Spring Concert at Montgomery County Community College
Choral Society of Montgomery County
with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Chamber Orchestra
Louis Scaglione, conductor
Laura Heimes, soprano
Serena Benedetti, soprano
Steven Brennfleck, tenor
Brian Ming Chu, baritone

Mozart                       Mass in C Minor, KV 427 "Great"

Lively Arts Series at Science Center Theater
Montgomery County Community College
340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA
Tickets: $15 (reserved seating), $10 (senior citizens and students), $7 (children under 12)
Information: 215.641.6518


Sunday, May 7, 2006 - 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra
66th Annual Festival Concert
Louis Scaglione, conductor
Susan Starr, piano

Rossini                      Overture to Guillame Tell
Beethoven                 Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58
Tchaikovsky               Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36

Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Broad and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia
Tickets: $10 - $18
Ticket Philadelphia: Online or 215.893.1999


Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra
11th Annual Festival Concert
Louis Scaglione, conductor
Francesca dePasquale, violin

Mozart                       Overture to Don Giovanni
Mendelssohn              Concerto for Violin in E Minor, Op. 64
Franck                       Symphony in D Minor

Perelman Theater at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Broad and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia
Tickets: $10
Ticket Philadelphia: Online or 215.893.1999