The country’s oldest youth orchestra is in Portland, and it’s celebrating 100 years

Published on: 05/02/2024

This news was posted by Oregon Today News

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Conductor David Hattner of Portland Youth Philharmonic chats with the group’s operations director, Jaren Willard, left, before a performance at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Katie Liu, center, is principal of the first violin section. She is a junior at Westview High School. Members of the Portland Youth Philharmonic warm up backstage before performing with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Katie Liu, principal of the first violin section, backstage at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic conductor David Hattner during a rehearsal the group at Jackson Middle School in Southwest Portland. February 25, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic performs with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Members of Portland Youth Philharmonic warm up backstage before their performance with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Katie Liu, principal of the first violin section, warms up backstage before performing with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic performs with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic conductor David Hattner, left, chats backstage with the philharmonic’s operations manager Jaren Hillard at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. At right is first violinist concertmaster Katie Liu. Portland Youth Philharmonic performs with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Members of Portland Youth Philharmonic warm up backstage before their performance with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Katie Liu, left, principal of the first violin section, warms up backstage before performing with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic performs with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Student musician Katelyn Nguyen, left, punches Monica Ellis’s stomach during a master class with Ellis, who performs with Grammy award-winning Imani Winds. Ellis was instructing Nguyen on the importance of proper breathing. February 26, 2024 Katie Liu, principal of the first violin section, warms up backstage before performing with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Concertmaster Katie Liu, left, and conductor David Hattner backstage before performing at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic performs with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Katie Liu, left, principal of the first violin section, chats with conductor David Hattner of Portland Youth Philharmonic before the two took to the stage at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic performs with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Katie Liu takes a moment before entering the stage at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where the Portland Youth Philharmonic performed with Imani Winds, March 28, 2024. Concertmaster Katie Liu, left, and conductor David Hattner in a quiet moment backstage before going onstage at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Jacob Mills with the Portland Youth Philharmonic rehearses at Jackson Middle School, February 25, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic performs with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Members of the Portland Youth Philharmonic warm up backstage before performing with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Mary Dodge, left. At right, Mary Dodge in Harney County with music students. Photo courtesy Portland Youth Philharmonic Mary V. Dodge formed Oregon’s first children’s orchestra, the Sagebrush Symphony, comprised of about two dozen children ranging in age from 5 to 12 years old. Photo courtesy Portland Youth Philharmonic Portland Youth Philharmonic performs with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Student musicians with the Portland Youth Philharmonic relax during a break in rehearsal at Jackson Middle School, February 29, 2024. Members of Portland Youth Philharmonic warm up backstage before their performance with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Miloh Dunn, left, and Peter Platosh prepare backstage before their performance at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Members of Portland Youth Philharmonic warm up backstage before their performance with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Members of the Portland Youth Philharmonic warm up backstage before performing with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Members of Portland Youth Philharmonic warm up backstage before their performance with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Members of Imani Winds perform with Portland Youth Philharmonic at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic performs with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Student musicians with the Portland Youth Philharmonic take a break during rehearsal at Jackson Middle School, February 29, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic rehearse with Imani Winds at Jackson Middle School, March 1, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic conductor David Hattner during a rehearsal the group at Jackson Middle School in Southwest Portland. February 25, 2024. Student musicians with the Portland Youth Philharmonic rehearse at Jackson Middle School, February 25, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic musicians enjoy a break during rehearsal at Jackson Middle School in Southwest Portland, February 25, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic conductor David Hattner during a rehearsal the group at Jackson Middle School in Southwest Portland. February 25, 2024. Some student musicians with the Portland Youth Philharmonic were able to participate in a master class with members of Imani Winds at Jackson Middle School, February 25, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic conductor David Hattner during a rehearsal the group at Jackson Middle School in Southwest Portland. February 25, 2024. Student musicians with the Portland Youth Philharmonic rehearse at Jackson Middle School, February 25, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic musicians enjoy a break during rehearsal at Jackson Middle School in Southwest Portland, February 25, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic conductor David Hattner during a rehearsal the group at Jackson Middle School in Southwest Portland. February 25, 2024. Mekhi Gladden performs with Imani Winds and the Portland Youth Philharmonic at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Members of Imani Winds arrive and prepare to rehearse with Portland Youth Philharmonic at Jackson Middle School, February 25, 2024. Kevin Newton of Imani Winds rehearses with Portland Youth Philharmonic at Jackson Middle School, February 25, 2024. Student musicians with the Portland Youth Philharmonic rehearse at Jackson Middle School, February 29, 2024. Monica Ellis of Imani Winds rehearses with Portland Youth Philharmonic at Jackson Middle School, February 25, 2024. During a rehearsal break, young musicians gather around a video showing a classical performance by other students. February 26, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic members relax behind the scenes at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Student musicians with the Portland Youth Philharmonic relax during a break in rehearsal at Jackson Middle School, February 29, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic performs with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Sarah Lee of Portland Youth Philharmonic during a brief rehearsal at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Suzanne Xu during a brief rehearsal at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic on stage at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City before their performance. March 28, 2024. Asher Millman takes notes during a brief rehearsal at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic performs with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Members of Portland Youth Philharmonic have a brief, last minute rehearsal onstage before their performance at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Leo Trajano of Portland Youth Philharmonic during a brief rehearsal at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Members of Portland Youth Philharmonic have a brief, last minute rehearsal onstage before their performance at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic members relax behind the scenes at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic performs with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Daphne Titterington of Portland Youth Philharmonic during a brief, last minute rehearsal onstage before their performance at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Members of Portland Youth Philharmonic have a brief, last minute rehearsal onstage before their performance at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Portland Youth Philharmonic performs with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Audience members enjoy Imani Winds and Portland Youth Philharmonic at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Brandon Patrick George, left, and Mekhi Gladden perform with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Mekhi Gladden performs with Imani Winds and the Portland Youth Philharmonic at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. A view from backstage of the Portland Youth Philharmonic performance with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Andy Shin of Portland Youth Philharmonic during a brief rehearsal at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Members of Portland Youth Philharmonic gather backstage before their performance with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Student musicians with the Portland Youth Philharmonic participate in a master class with members of Imani Winds at Jackson Middle School, February 29, 2024. Adelaide Nelson rehearses with Portland Youth Philharmonic musicians rehearse at Jackson Middle School, February 25, 2024. Seojin Ha of Portland Youth Philharmonic hangs out backstage before the group’s performance with Imani Winds at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, March 28, 2024. Student musicians with the Portland Youth Philharmonic take a break during rehearsal at Jackson Middle School, February 29, 2024. Some student musicians with the Portland Youth Philharmonic took part in a master class with members of Imani Winds at Jackson Middle School, February 29, 2024. Luke D’Silva rehearses with Portland Youth Philharmonic musicians rehearse at Jackson Middle School, February 25, 2024.