By Dr. Ann Anderson, organized by Abby Rolland
As part of The Presser Foundation’s drive to be more transparent and to amplify the work of its partners, it uses information from grant reports to highlight its grantees.
Each post will spotlight one partner, who has final say over the contents and structure of the post. In this way, the Foundation hopes to not only use information from grant reports (which often go unread and unused), but also to shine the light on many wonderful music organizations.
This post focuses on the Young People’s Philharmonic of the Lehigh Valley (YPPLV), a Lehigh Valley-based youth music organization comprised of two ensembles – the Young People’s Philharmonic and the Junior String Philharmonic. YPPLV has offered youth ensemble experience for 50 years.
Background
In 1976, founders Jerry and Nancy Bidlack moved to Bethlehem when Jerry joined the music department at Lehigh University. Recognizing a gap in the region, they launched a youth orchestra that same year to give young musicians greater access to musical experiences.
From that beginning, YPPLV has been a home for music students who want to engage with others. Its three ensembles – the Young People’s Philharmonic (YPP), a full symphony orchestra for students in grades 9–12, and the Junior String Philharmonic (JSP), serving string students in grades 5–9 – bring together young musicians from across the region to share in music together. YPPLV most recently added a new orchestra for even younger students from grades 2-5 called “Presto Strings.” This group will give beginning string students the opportunity to develop their ensemble skills in a smaller orchestra setting and will debut this coming 2026/2027 season.
Programs
The YPPLV season begins with weekly rehearsals in mid-September and runs through the end of May, with a winter break. Each ensemble prepares a holiday concert and a spring concert – which includes a concerto competition for high school seniors – and spends one school day touring local K–12 schools to perform for their peers.
Beyond its regular concert season, the Young People’s Philharmonic has cultivated a distinguished record of championing contemporary composers and meaningful collaborations. In 2022, the orchestra presented the world premiere of My Life Flashed Before My Eyes by Dr. Diogo Carvalho, underscoring its commitment to bringing new works to life. Continuing this trajectory, in 2024 the JSP was featured as a select ensemble of young string players in Palma, a composition by Paul Salerni commissioned for WVIA’s 50th Anniversary celebration. This project also included collaborative performances alongside the Lehigh University Philharmonic in two separate concerts.
YPPLV’s excellence has been recognized on prominent stages. In 2023, the Young People’s Philharmonic was honored as a featured ensemble at the PMEA All-State Conference, held at the Kalahari Resort in the Pocono Mountains. That same year, both the YPP and JSP orchestras were showcased at Musikfest in Bethlehem, performing on the Vesper Stage – an esteemed venue dedicated to highlighting leading regional classical ensembles.
The school tours are a highlight of the season. Planned once year, each tour brings ensemble members to two or three local schools, where they perform for students and offer a glimpse into what it’s like to play in a live student orchestra.
Recent milestones have underscored the ensembles’ growing reputation. In 2023, the Junior String Philharmonic performed for the Pennsylvania legislature and guests in the rotunda of the Capitol Building in celebration of Music in Our Schools Month. The Young People’s Philharmonic was the only orchestra invited to guest perform at the annual PMEA conference, where students had the chance to meet a composer whose work they had recently performed.
Expanding Access through Innovations
YPPLV is committed to reaching more students and removing barriers to participation. Recognizing that students in grades 3–5 often lack opportunities to play in ensembles, YPPLV is launching the Prelude ensemble for that age group in the fall of 2026.
The organization is also establishing a collaboration with Hearts for Music, an “all abilities” orchestra that welcomes children and young adults with disabilities. YPPLV and Hearts for Music will rehearse separately and come together for a culminating side-by-side concert, ensuring that all who want to perform have the opportunity to do so.
To address financial barriers, the Board created a conductors’ scholarship for students who need assistance with orchestra fees, alongside a broader financial aid program so that cost is never a reason a student can’t participate.
Finally, a scheduling change has made room for something meaningful: when high school students in the Young People’s Philharmonic expressed a desire to mentor those in the Junior String Philharmonic, conductors aligned rehearsal days and shared breaks to create natural opportunities for connection and collaboration between the two ensembles.
Impact
YPPLV’s programs are designed to nurture young musicians, helping them build strong musicianship, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for music. The organization is committed to creating meaningful experiences where students find joy, pride, and a sense of belonging, while forming lasting friendships and relationships with mentors.
By providing a positive, inclusive, and educational environment, YPPLV hopes to strengthen the cultural fabric of the region, enrich local communities through music, and inspire the next generation of dedicated, well-rounded musicians.