The Utah Youth Philharmonic was created in 2008 in order to be as inclusive as possible and offer the Utah Youth Orchestras & Ensembles (UYO&E) experience to more youth musicians than ever before. Music Director Barbara Scowcroft determined that the UYPhil would be a natural response to an ever-increasing number of musicians auditioning for our original high school orchestra.
Led by Music Director and professional Conductor, Barbara Scowcroft, UYPhil challenges our students with unparalleled opportunities to perform a myriad of highly advanced, unedited classical literature at the highest level in Utah’s finest concert venues. Numerous sectional instructional sessions are conducted with very low student:teacher ratios by some of our area’s finest musicians, including musicians from the Utah Symphony, U of U School of Music, UVU School of Music, Ballet West, and other top-tier music instructors in our area.
UYPhil provides exceptional preparation for highly-committed youth musicians expecting to major in music, enter the music profession, or to enjoy music as a life-long avocation. Musicians accepted to UYPhil generally have several years of ensemble experience, ideally with the Utah Youth Junior Symphony Orchestra, are expected to be members of their school bands or orchestras, study their instruments with private teachers, and perform individually at the pre-collegiate or collegiate level.
We strongly encourage our musicians’ participation in their high school band or orchestra for the exceptional benefits to youth musicians and UYPhil. In turn, the UYPhil experience enhances high school bands and orchestras. In addition, UYPhil offers our students the emotionally, socially, artistically, and intellectually-supportive, nurturing environment of our 200+ UYO&E youth musicians and professionals.