The Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra brings together the greater Dayton area’s most gifted young orchestral musicians, providing the opportunity to study and perform a broad range of orchestral repertoire. The DPYO is committed to inspiring an overall cultural awareness and appreciation of music in its members and audiences, strengthening our region’s existing school music programs, and helping stimulate interest in the development of school orchestral programs where none exist. Founded in 1937 by Paul Katz, the DPYO is one of the nation’s oldest youth orchestras.

The DPYO performs three concerts each season. In 2002, 2004, 2006, 2014 and 2019 the group was invited to perform at the Ohio Music Education Association conferences.

The Youth Orchestra regularly appears on the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra’s Family Concert Series, featuring collaborations with Cirque de la Symphonie, Zoot Theatre, Platypus Theatre, the Dayton Ballet II Senior Company, the Gem City Ballet, the South Dayton Ballet, illustrator Rob Shepperson, performance artist Dan Kamin, and the Magic Circle Mime Company. In March 2008 a chamber orchestra from the DPYO participated in a production of Hans Krása’s opera Brundibar in a collaboration between the DPYO, the Dayton Opera, the Kettering Children’s Choir and the Victoria Theatre Association.

DPYO is supported by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Association of Parents and Friends of the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and the Dayton Philharmonic Volunteer Association. The orchestra is affiliated with the Youth Division of the League of American Orchestras.