About Pasadena Young Musicians Orchestra

Conductor and Music Director - Jo Raquel Stoup

PYMO Address

Board of Directors

Coaches

About Pasadena Young Musicians Orchestra

The Pasadena Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO) celebrates over 50 years of performances. The institution has provided musical training for gifted young instrumentalists of high school and junior college age. Orchestra members represent 32 different schools, and come from diverse economic and ethnic backgrounds. They all come together to work towards one common goal: to learn how to play in a symphony orchestra. 

PYMO rehearses and performs at Pasadena City College, where conductor, Jo Raquel Stoup, is a faculty member, conducting orchestra and chamber groups. PYMO has performed twice in Hawaii and has also played at the Music Educators' Convention. The Wilshire Ebell theatre in Los Angeles has hosted them, as well as, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.  

All members must belong to a performance group at their school, making PYMO an extension of their school music program. PYMO rehearses once a week and performs three different concerts each year in addition to its music tour. 

PYMO is operated by the PYMO Association, a non-profit organization dependent on a network of volunteers and donors, including parents, friends, and area businesses. PYMO is particularly grateful for the many benefits derived from its' close association with Pasadena City College, the Pasadena Symphony Association, and the many high schools in the area. 

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Conductor and Music Director - Jo Raquel Stoup

PYMO Music Director and Conductor, Jo Raquel Stoup, is an accomplished flutist, conductor, dynamic performer and educator. She has a BM degree in Music Education and Performance from Brigham Young University and a Masters degree in Flute Performance from Temple University in Philadelphia. She has taught and played professionally throughout the United States. 

After moving to Pasadena, Jo taught music at every grade level in the Pasadena Unified School District. As the Instrumental Music Director at John Muir High School, she developed a highly successful and respected music magnet program. Ms. Stoup is presently a full-time faculty member at Pasadena City College, where she instructs music majors and directs the PCC Orchestra. Jo continues to perform flute recitals and has appeared regularly as a Faculty Artist at the college.  

In August 2002, she and Laraine Madden were invited to perform a recital at the Musicfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Jo is often called upon to clinic ensembles and conduct music festivals throughout Southern California. In February 2003, Ms. Stoup conducted the Ventura County Honor Band. 

As a performer, Ms. Stoup has premiered works by Howard Hansen, worked under the baton of Aaron Copland, performed with Maurice Abravanel and the Utah Symphony, soloed with Henry Mancini and performed with Luciano Pavarotti. She was a founding member of the Festival Chamber Players, and performed frequently with the Philadelphia Concerto Soloists and the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company. 

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Pasadena Young Musicians Orchestra, P.O. Box 50386 Pasadena CA 91115

Voice mail: (626) 403-1086 e-mail: pasadenayoungmusicians@yahoo.com

Please use the links to the top left to check our upcoming events and other information.

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Pasadena Young Musisians Orchestra Board of Directors

Lisa Gladstone, President
Brian McMahon, Vice President
Diana Sowers, Treasurer
Sandi Boada, Secretary
John Harris
Claudia Jette
Nancy Leitner
Steve Morris
Diana Ou
Mark Walther
Linda Wu

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Coaches

Orchestra Manager and Percussion - Robin Sharp High Strings - Kelly Bunch Low Strings- Rodney Wirtz Woodwinds - Kate Green Brass - Blake Hanna Trumpet Specialist - Blake Hanna PYMO would like to thank two of our fine coaches who will be leaving us to pursue their professional musical careers. Nick Stoup will perform with Palau des les Arts Orchestra in Valencia, Spain. He has been appointed to the position of Principal Percussion and Assistant Tympanist. As a Ziljian artist and representative, Nick will be presenting master classes in Spain. Noah Gladstone has won the position as substitute Trombonist for The New World Symphony in Miami, Florida and will return to USC in the fall to earn a Masters Degree in trombone performance. He teaches trombone privately in the Los Angeles area and is an active AFM Local 47 union member. In addition, Noah is a music contractor for Hollywood motion picture film scores, hiring local professionals to record sound tracks. We wish them continued success, but PYMO will miss them.

Nick Stoup

Noah Gladstone

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