Find Your People at the HPYO
The Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra is a place for young musicians to join together and create great music. With two streams, the HPYO has a place for most youth musicians who play an orchestral instrument. Younger musicians who have been playing for a few years and have never been in an orchestra will find a home in the Concert Orchestra. The Philharmonic Orchestra, on the other hand, provides a more advanced experience to those players with a higher level of technical ability and who have orchestral experience.
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Our young musicians travel from across the Greater Hamilton Area and beyond on Saturday mornings to meet at McMaster University to make music and friends. With a focus on building community and ensuring that all HPYO players and their families feel valued and included, our faculty and administrative staff work hard to develop a comfortable and welcoming environment for them when they arrive.
Our philosophy is to provide high quality orchestral training as a vehicle for personal development and growth in our youth musicians. Music education is proven to enhance cognitive development, language skills and spatial-temporal abilities. Being a member of a youth music ensemble creates a sense of pride and accomplishment. It allows young people to be part of a larger community of musicians, and develops a sense of teamwork and interdependence.
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