These thoughtfully curated programs, led by Music Director Mélisse Brunet, are designed to both entertain and educate, while making live music exciting and accessible regardless of background, income, or prior exposure to the arts. Age appropriate educational materials are provided to schools in advance of the performance that introduce musical vocabulary and program themes, to empower students to arrive as informed and curious listeners. Open to public schools, private schools, cyber charter schools, and homeschools.
The 2026-2027 YPC Lineup
Celebrate Luzerne County!
Celebrate Luzerne County’s 240th anniversary through an engaging blend of music, history, and multimedia storytelling. The program will feature Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring, accompanied by newly created multimedia projections highlighting 240 years of local history and community milestones. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in an interactive Q&A session with Music Director Mélisse Brunet and other guest artists, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the music and the creative process.
Designed for grades 6-12
Priority given to Luzerne County schools
Details
Friday, September 25th, 2026
10:30AM
F.M. Kirby Center
Dvořák Meets Jaws
PRESENTED BY THE HAWK FAMILY FOUNDATION
Explore a new world, sharks, and iconic movie music with programming from John Williams’ score to the film Jaws™, as well as excerpts of Antonin Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”, highlighting John Williams’ inspiration from composers such as Dvořák and the thematic similarities between the two works. Students will learn how a score shapes these emotions, builds tension, and brings characters to life. This immersive experience bridges the gap between the concert stage and the movie screen.
Designed for grades 3-6
Details
Thursday, March 4th, 2027
10:30AM
Scranton Cultural Center
8 Seasons, 2 Hemispheres
Journey around the world with two musical masterpieces inspired by the changing seasons. Through Vivaldi’s beloved The Four Seasons and Astor Piazzolla’s vibrant The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, students will discover how composers from two different sides of the world used music to paint vivid pictures of nature. Are there similarities between eighteenth-century Italy and twentieth-century Argentina? Join us to find out.
Designed for grades 3-6
Priority given to Hazleton School District
Details
Friday, April 30th, 2027
10:30AM
Hazleton Area High School
Register for a YPC Concert
Our Music Conductor, Mélisse Brunet
When I was a kid, each performance my friends and I gave side-by-side with professionals deeply changed our lives. We suddenly felt responsible, honored, respected, and every second of music, every word a professional would tell us was taken as a very special gift we would nurture for years. I became a professional musician, but most of my friends ended up in totally different fields and have kept playing their instrument and sharing that passion with their families and communities.
A community that takes care of their Youth in giving them responsibilities, in exposing them side by side with professionals, is building history, as well as a strong and healthy future for itself. I am very proud the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic gives this chance to our Young People of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
