About the RPYO

A program of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) Education & Community Engagement Department, the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RPYO) in association with the Eastman Community Music School (ECMS), motivates its student musicians to achieve excellence in performance and develop a lifelong love of music.

Since 1970, the RPYO has offered our community’s most advanced young musicians orchestral experiences of the highest order. More than 2,200 of the Rochester area’s most talented musicians have experienced the challenges and rewards of learning symphonic masterworks while playing in the RPYO. More than 200 of them have performed in professional music ensembles, including other major symphony orchestras. Five RPYO alumni currently perform with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Hundreds have become dedicated music educators (more than 30 in Rochester area schools), as well as composers, conductors, and arts administrators.

In 2023, the RPYO formed a partnership with the Eastman Community Music School (ECMS), bringing together two of Rochester’s leading music institutions to enhance the RPYO experience. This collaboration supports our musicians’ artistic growth and connects them more deeply to Rochester’s vibrant music community.

As members of the ECMS community, RPYO members get an official Eastman ID, with access to ESM/ECMS facilities and the Sibley Music Library; are eligibile for ECMS scholarships, financial aid, and tuition discounts; and have the opportunity to join additional ECMS lessons, classes, and ensembles at a discounted rate.