Youth Philharmonic

Conductor: Senior Lecturer John Page  
Sectional coaches: Ashley AddingtonIan Ashby, Yank’l Garcia, Monica Grady, Liz Jewell, Miguel Pérez-Espejo, Timur RubinshteynHsin-Lin Tsai

The Tufts Youth Philharmonic (TYP) is a distinguished addition to the musical culture of the greater Boston area. Open to advanced students ages 13 and up, TYP nurtures every aspect of each member's development with individual attention and strong group camaraderie. Rehearsals are held every Friday from 4:00-6:30 p.m. and consist of section rehearsals followed by full orchestra sessions. This unique structure gives each member of the orchestra individual, sectional, and full orchestral rehearsal and performance exposure in one comprehensive experience. The coaches, along with Tufts student mentors, provide individual and group feedback, playing alongside the students in the full orchestra rehearsals and offering assistance and encouragement every step of the way.

Award-winning conductor and Tufts Director of Orchestral Activities, John Page, has been on the faculties of the New England Conservatory (preparatory division and college) and Boston University, and has acted as Assistant Conductor to the Boston Philharmonic. Mr. Page is also Music Director of the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra in New Hampshire and the PARMA Orchestra; he conducted the double platinum-winning PBS show, Celtic Woman, and has traveled the US twice with the group on their Symphony Tour, conducting over a dozen orchestras including the Atlanta Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Colorado Symphony.  

The Tufts Youth Philharmonic rehearses in the state-of-the-art Granoff Music Center on the Tufts Medford/Somerville Campus. Performances take place in Distler Performance Hall in the Granoff Music Center, the finest small recital hall in the Boston area.

TYP Concerto Competition

The 2024-2025 TYP Concerto Competition will take place in January for members of the orchestra. The concerto repertoire must be approved by John Page. One complete movement is required for the audition, and a pianist will be provided for the orchestral accompaniment. The winner will perform their concerto movement with TYP in the May concert.

Attendance at all TYP rehearsals and concerts is extremely important. Attendance will be taken every week.

  • Members of Tufts Youth Philharmonic are required to take private or semi-private lessons on their instruments and to seek instruction on passages from TYP repertoire that are challenging.

    TYP students are active in many musical activities, but we expect families to plan carefully to minimize the number of absences from rehearsals for TYP.

    Learn more about the university's COVID-19 policies.

    If a member of the orchestra must miss a rehearsal, he or she is responsible for finding out what music was covered and for preparing assigned music for upcoming rehearsals. After two absences in a semester, the student must play for the conductor and sectional coach.

    Attendance is required at all rehearsals and concerts. The calendar for the year is published online at least two months prior to the first rehearsal in September.

    The hours for Friday rehearsals are 4:00-6:30 pm. Anyone arriving 30 minutes late or leaving 30 minutes early will be considered absent that day.

    Students may be placed on probation after three absences in a semester.

    Questions? 
    Please contact Edith Auner 
    Phone: 617-627-5616

  • September 6 beginning at 4 pm, in person auditions
    September 27
    October 4, 11, 18, 25
    November 1, 8, 15, 22
    (No rehearsal on November 29)
    Fall Concert on November 22
    December 6, 13
    (No rehearsal on December 20 or 27)

    January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
    Concerto Competition on January 24
    Benefit Concert on January 31
    February 7, 14, 28 
    (No rehearsal on February 21)
    March 7, 14, 21, 28
    March 4, Tuesday, dress rehearsal at Symphony Hall
    March 7 - TYP performance at Symphony Hall along with Tufts Orchestras and Choirs in one gala performance
    April 4, 11, 18
    (No rehearsal on April 25)
    May 2, 9
    May 11, concert at 3 pm
    Performances scheduled for November, January, February, March, and May