Auditions for 2026-2027 School Year
- Woodwinds/Brass/Percussion: Wednesday, August 26th from 3:00-5:00pm at the Crewe Center for the Arts. See below for audition requirements.
- All Strings: Monday, August 31st and Tuesday, September 1st from 6:00-9:00pm at the Crewe Center for the Arts. See below for audition requirements.
Audition Requirements
For Osher Youth Ensemble Members
History of the Osher Youth Ensembles
On March 22, 1942, the first rehearsal of the 65-member Student Philharmonic Orchestra, was held at the Chestnut Street Church. That orchestra was created, and conducted for 32 years, by Clinton W. Graffam Jr., a Portland Symphony Orchestra oboist, and whose father was one of the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s founders. The first concert by the Student Philharmonic was given on the following May 19 at Portland City Hall Auditorium before an audience of 1,200. The concert was sponsored as a benefit for the War Service Department by the Maine Federation of Music Clubs. In place of an admission fee, concert-goers donated sheet music and phonograph records, which were to be distributed to members of the Armed Forces throughout Maine.
The orchestra eventually became known as the Junior Symphony, then the Portland Symphony Youth Orchestra—a part of the PSO’s educational and community outreach. In 1979-80 two more youth groups were added to the program, The Portland Youth Wind Ensemble and Portland Young People’s String Consort. In 1996-97 all three youth ensembles came under the administration of the School of Music of the University of Southern Maine (then called the Music Department).
The Osher School of Music is proud to carry on the tradition of offering high-quality performance opportunities for middle and high school students from around the region and is grateful to the parents, schools, and educators who help to make these opportunities possible.
Our Youth Ensembles
Portland Youth Wind Ensemble (PYWE)
conducted by Dr. William Kinne, Director of Bands, Osher School of Music at USM.
The Portland Youth Wind Ensemble is an auditioned wind ensemble of outstanding woodwind, brass, and percussion players in grades 8–12. It is dedicated to enriching the lives of young people by refining both technique and artistic expression through a varied repertoire of music. Selected members are invited to also join PYSO, the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Weekly rehearsals during the school year are Wednesdays from 5:45-7:15 p.m. in the Crewe Center for the Arts on the USM Portland Campus.
Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra (PYSO)
conducted by Dr. Robert Lehmann, Director of Strings, Osher School of Music at USM.
The Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra (PYSO) is made up of over 70 musicians in grades 8–12. Established in 1942, the PYSO has grown into a pre-professional program of high caliber which challenges its members with a diverse repertory of choice symphonic literature.
Weekly rehearsals during the academic year are Wednesdays from 5:45-9 p.m. in the Crewe Center for the Arts on the USM Portland Campus.
Portland Youth Junior Orchestra (PYJO)
conducted by Hanna Flewelling
The Portland Youth Junior Orchestra (PYJO) is an intermediate-level string orchestra, which has as its primary goal to train players to move into the PYSO. It stresses the building of solid fundamental orchestral skills, improvement in sight-reading ability, and presents members with challenging and varied repertory.
Weekly rehearsals during the academic year are Wednesdays from 5:45-7:15 p.m. in the Crewe Center for the Arts on the USM Portland Campus.
Portland Young Peoples’ String Consort (PYPSC)
conducted by Linda Vaillancourt
The Portland Young People’s String Consort gives less advanced string players training for the PYJO, a chance to become familiar with playing in an ensemble, following a conductor, and gaining formal performance experience. Established in 1979, the PYPSC offers adjunct support to string programs in Maine schools
Weekly rehearsals during the academic year are Wednesdays from 5:45-7:15 p.m. in the Crewe Center for the Arts on the USM Portland Campus.
Thank you for your interest in the
Osher School of Music Youth Ensembles.
For more information, email usm.music.youth@maine.edu or all (207) 780-5003.