Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra (PCYO)

The Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra (PCYO) is an orchestra in Tampa Bay, Florida for school-aged children that allows them to participate based upon skill level.

History

In 1982, Beverly Lauring helped found the Tampa Bay Youth Orchestras. These orchestras allowed school-aged children to participate in several orchestras based upon skill level. Music students from the Tampa Bay area, mostly Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties, could participate to advance their performing and playing skills. The program found a permanent home at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. In 2004, a new building named for major TBPAC donor Dr. Pallavi Patel was finished. At the same time, the youth orchestra program was renamed the Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra, or PCYO.

Orchestras

Chamber Winds

Chamber Winds, the newest orchestra of PCYO, was created in 2004. Chamber Winds was made for beginning to intermediate level wind and brass students. Because the competition for these instruments was high, managers felt a need to create a place to keep all the musicians who were not ready for higher orchestras. Martin Hebert first conducted this group, but now it is conducted by Robby Schoos.

Concert Strings

Also one of the newer orchestras, Concert Strings was designed for the same main reason that Chamber Winds was: to house beginning level string students. Though Concert Strings consists of mostly younger musicians, it is still known to be very good. Jason Jerald conducts this orchestra.

String Sinfonia

String Sinfonia has been around since the birth of the youth orchestra program. It is for intermediate string students and consists of violinists, violists, cellists, and bassists. String Sinfonia too has a good reputation. The conductor, Sandy Neel, is one of the most praised and acclaimed conductors in the program.

Junior Philharmonic

Junior Philharmonic has also been around since 1982. It is a full orchestra consisting of percussion, winds, brass, and strings. The players in this orchestra are GeneRally intermediate-advanced in level. Dr. James Bass did conduct this orchestra for quite some time, but he was offered a job as a choir director in Michigan and therefore the current conductor, Dr. David Coash, took his place in 2006.

Youth Symphony

Youth Symphony is the premier, most well-known orchestra of PCYO. It was created upon the organization's founding in 1982. As an orchestra of advanced young musicians, the Youth Symphony plays a difficult repertoire and, for its achievement, has been invited to play in Carnegie Hall twice. Dr. William Wiedrich is the longstanding conductor of this orchestra.