Portland Youth Philharmonic
Portland Youth Philharmonic, 1820 NE 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97212
About
Portland Youth Philharmonic offers young musicians activities such as Family Field Trips, the PPI Piano Competition, Children’s Concerts, a Peer Mentor Program, Conductor Visits, Double Bass Classes, and Master Classes. The program includes performances at major concert venues and festivals, as well as expanded community programming connected to its ensembles and events.
• Price: Get your season pass and save 30% on all concerts.
Founded in 1924 as the Portland Junior Symphony Association, later renamed the Portland Youth Philharmonic Association (PYP), Portland Youth Philharmonic is the oldest youth orchestra in the United States. The organization’s structure and standards established in the 1920s became a prototype for youth orchestras across the country, and its name was changed to Portland Youth Philharmonic in 1978. PYP celebrated 100 years in the 2023–2024 season, marked Season 102 as a landmark year, and is now in Season 103, which is described as bringing together growth, discovery, and music in motion. PYP is committed to being a welcoming and safe community for young musicians and their families of all cultures, races, religions, genders, sexual orientations, and circumstances.
The leadership history includes Mary V. Dodge and Jacques Gershkovitch (1924–1953), Jacob Avshalomov (1954–1995), Huw Edwards (1995–2002), Mei-Ann Chen (2002–2007), and David Hattner (2007–present day), with Hattner serving as Musical Director. Mr. Hattner received a Bachelor of Music degree with honors from Northwestern University as a clarinet student of Robert Marcellus and participated three times in the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen, studying with David Zinman and Murry Sidlin. At the time referenced, Mei-Ann Chen was a doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan and had already completed a double master’s degree in Violin Performance and Orchestral Conducting from the New England Conservatory. The broader leadership team also includes Carlos Kalmar and Kristen Gwinn-Becker, PhD, HistoryIT Founder & CEO.
Under Maestro Avshalomov, the orchestra received the ASCAP Award for “Adventuresome Programming of Contemporary Music,” and during Huw Edwards’ tenure, PYP again received an ASCAP Award for “Adventurous Programming and Commitment to Contemporary Music.” Under Mei-Ann Chen, the orchestra received a third ASCAP Award for “Adventuresome Programming of Contemporary Music.” In 1998, PYP represented the United States at the Banff International Festival of Youth Orchestras in Canada, and in the summer of 2000 it embarked on its seventh international tour to Australia and New Zealand. During PYP’s 80th Anniversary Season in 2004, the Philharmonic Orchestra received a standing ovation in Carnegie Hall, and the group has also toured the East Coast, including a performance at Carnegie Hall, as well as an international trip to Taiwan. In 2005, Mei-Ann Chen won the International Malko Competition for Young Conductors in Copenhagen, Denmark, becoming the first woman to win since the competition began in 1965.
PYP’s unique features include being the oldest continuously operating youth orchestra in the U.S.A. and presenting the world’s first interactive Children’s Concert broadcast via satellite across Oregon. The organization has created an all-new digital museum in partnership with HistoryIT, and it is described as still training musicians for excellence and for success in life. PYP’s nationally acclaimed Peer Mentor Program is part of its ongoing work with young musicians.
Community involvement includes PYP School Music Enrichment Programs that provide no-cost bass classes and middle school coaching for youth from the community. Hattner and his conducting staff support school music programs with free Conductor Visits that bring teaching and practice techniques to school ensembles around the region. PYP invites alumni, families, and audience members to join the Friends of PYP network to help shape the future of what it calls America’s first and longest-running youth orchestra.
Reviews and testimonials note that “The Portland Youth Philharmonic roared like a Maserati on Saturday in its first concert under music director David Hattner. The route was challenging, the execution distinguished and the ride delightful,” according to David Stabler for The Oregonian. The Chicago Tribune’s Alan Artner cited PYP’s programming and execution as “brilliant in all departments.” HistoryIT Founder & CEO Kristen Gwinn-Becker, PhD, stated that HistoryIT is thrilled to support PYP’s efforts to digitally preserve and share its past and described PYP as establishing a framework to ensure the story of its global impact and alumni legacy will be available to inspire current and future generations, calling this a way to honor what she describes as a monumental milestone.
Last updated July 13, 2026.
• Price: Get your season pass and save 30% on all concerts.
Founded in 1924 as the Portland Junior Symphony Association, later renamed the Portland Youth Philharmonic Association (PYP), Portland Youth Philharmonic is the oldest youth orchestra in the United States. The organization’s structure and standards established in the 1920s became a prototype for youth orchestras across the country, and its name was changed to Portland Youth Philharmonic in 1978. PYP celebrated 100 years in the 2023–2024 season, marked Season 102 as a landmark year, and is now in Season 103, which is described as bringing together growth, discovery, and music in motion. PYP is committed to being a welcoming and safe community for young musicians and their families of all cultures, races, religions, genders, sexual orientations, and circumstances.
The leadership history includes Mary V. Dodge and Jacques Gershkovitch (1924–1953), Jacob Avshalomov (1954–1995), Huw Edwards (1995–2002), Mei-Ann Chen (2002–2007), and David Hattner (2007–present day), with Hattner serving as Musical Director. Mr. Hattner received a Bachelor of Music degree with honors from Northwestern University as a clarinet student of Robert Marcellus and participated three times in the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen, studying with David Zinman and Murry Sidlin. At the time referenced, Mei-Ann Chen was a doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan and had already completed a double master’s degree in Violin Performance and Orchestral Conducting from the New England Conservatory. The broader leadership team also includes Carlos Kalmar and Kristen Gwinn-Becker, PhD, HistoryIT Founder & CEO.
Under Maestro Avshalomov, the orchestra received the ASCAP Award for “Adventuresome Programming of Contemporary Music,” and during Huw Edwards’ tenure, PYP again received an ASCAP Award for “Adventurous Programming and Commitment to Contemporary Music.” Under Mei-Ann Chen, the orchestra received a third ASCAP Award for “Adventuresome Programming of Contemporary Music.” In 1998, PYP represented the United States at the Banff International Festival of Youth Orchestras in Canada, and in the summer of 2000 it embarked on its seventh international tour to Australia and New Zealand. During PYP’s 80th Anniversary Season in 2004, the Philharmonic Orchestra received a standing ovation in Carnegie Hall, and the group has also toured the East Coast, including a performance at Carnegie Hall, as well as an international trip to Taiwan. In 2005, Mei-Ann Chen won the International Malko Competition for Young Conductors in Copenhagen, Denmark, becoming the first woman to win since the competition began in 1965.
PYP’s unique features include being the oldest continuously operating youth orchestra in the U.S.A. and presenting the world’s first interactive Children’s Concert broadcast via satellite across Oregon. The organization has created an all-new digital museum in partnership with HistoryIT, and it is described as still training musicians for excellence and for success in life. PYP’s nationally acclaimed Peer Mentor Program is part of its ongoing work with young musicians.
Community involvement includes PYP School Music Enrichment Programs that provide no-cost bass classes and middle school coaching for youth from the community. Hattner and his conducting staff support school music programs with free Conductor Visits that bring teaching and practice techniques to school ensembles around the region. PYP invites alumni, families, and audience members to join the Friends of PYP network to help shape the future of what it calls America’s first and longest-running youth orchestra.
Reviews and testimonials note that “The Portland Youth Philharmonic roared like a Maserati on Saturday in its first concert under music director David Hattner. The route was challenging, the execution distinguished and the ride delightful,” according to David Stabler for The Oregonian. The Chicago Tribune’s Alan Artner cited PYP’s programming and execution as “brilliant in all departments.” HistoryIT Founder & CEO Kristen Gwinn-Becker, PhD, stated that HistoryIT is thrilled to support PYP’s efforts to digitally preserve and share its past and described PYP as establishing a framework to ensure the story of its global impact and alumni legacy will be available to inspire current and future generations, calling this a way to honor what she describes as a monumental milestone.
Last updated July 13, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.