PMAY Artists’ Initiative

Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY) rehearsal

PMAY Artists' Initiative Logo

The PMAY Artists’ Initiative is meant to address a major issue in American classical music. Less than 5% of musicians in professional American orchestras are African American or Latino, and the numbers of South Asians, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Alaskan Natives are similarly low. Yet the cities that support these orchestras are racially and ethnically diverse places. The PMAY Artists’ Initiative will select a group of 75 young musicians, the first class of PMAY Artists, who will eventually change the face of classical music.

The PMAY Artists’ Initiative is designed for serious music students who have a high musical aptitude and the motivation to pursue a professional music career on a standard orchestral instrument.

  • Students currently in grades 4-11 may audition

Eligible instruments include:

  • Violin, viola, cello and double bass
  • Flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
  • Trumpet, French horn, trombone and tuba
  • Percussion
  • Harp

This program is open only to orchestral instrumentalists. Applications for piano, saxophone, guitar and voice students will not be accepted.

The PMAY Artists’ Initiative is a collaboration among nine Philadelphia organizations that believe in providing access to music education for all students. PMAY Artists may work closely with one or many of these organizations and their programs, based on the individual needs and goals of the Artists. The organizations are:

  • Settlement Music School
  • Musicopia
  • Philadelphia Sinfonia
  • PYO Music Institute
  • Project 440
  • Temple University Music Prep

Questions? Please email Najib Wong, PMAY Artists’ Inititiative Director, at najib.wong@pmayartists.org

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