Sagebush to Stumptown
Portland Youth Philharmonic's Astonishing First Century
Welcome to the story...
...of Portland Youth Philharmonic's improbable emergence as the first youth orchestra in the United States. This exhibit captures only a tiny bit of PYP's century-long legacy; there are many names and events that have been omitted. Please share your memories and comments for us to consider including in PYP's new permanent digital timeline.
We thank the Leupold & Stevens Foundation for its generosity in the past and for its sponsorship of PYP's 100th Anniversary Season, including this exhibit, livestreaming our Schnitzer concerts, and our new digital museum. Ruth Saunders, violin, and Marcus Leupold, piano, performed with the Portland Junior Symphony on February 14, 1925. They and their descendants have supported this organization for its entire first century.
You are invited to explore PYP's 100-year history. We know you will be astonished when you hear the musicians through the decades. We hope you will be inspired to join us for a live performance soon.
Mary Dodge, 1918–1924
Innovative Teacher and Visionary PJS Founder
While teaching privately and at Irvington School, Mary envisioned a city-wide youth orchestra
Established Dodge Violin School in 1922
Traveled to Paris in 1923 to study violin training focused on body mechanics
Organized the Portland Junior Symphony
Convinced Jacques Gershkovitch to be its first professional conductor
More Info
Mary V. Dodge Oregon Music Certificate
Mary V. Dodge Violin School Brochure
Mary Dodge's grandson, Stew Dodge, learning to play the violin using her method in the 1950s.
Oregon Claims a Genius
by Robert Scott Cathey
Mary Dodge's violin method differed from traditional teaching by embracing science—melding the mechanics of the body and the instrument together with emotion and musical intelligence. Focusing on the study of motion and force as a legitimate method would not capture the attention of violin teachers in the US until the 1930s. But Mary Dodge was introduced to the concept in 1918, when a French teacher named Le Plat visited Portland and demonstrated the value of the suspended bow arm taught in the French school. To more thoroughly investigate these new ideas, Mary, and at least one of her students, traveled to France in 1923, to study with Remy of the Paris Conservatory. Sadly, her method book was never published, but the hand copied manuscript is complete, and the success of her students supports Cathey's admiration of her as an innovative genius.
(The Tumbleweed, Sept. 1939)
"This book is dedicated to those students whose loyalty and success has inspired this presentation of the Dodge method of vioilin mastery. Its principles adhere to the natural laws of mechanics and physiology, as well as musical law."
—Mary V. Dodge
Mary Dodge while in Paris in 1923 during her study of body mechanics for musicians.
Mary Dodge in Paris
Irvington School Orchestra
Statement of Purpose
Portland Junior Symphony 1925:
To encourage appreciation and rendition of orchestral music by young people, to give public symphonic and popular concerts, to discover and develop latent talent among the children of Portland.
Portland Youth Philharmonic 2023:
To prepare young people for success through musical excellence.
PYP's Vision for the 21st Century:
High-quality music education is accessible to all young people in our culturally diverse community.
Jacques Gershkovich, 1924–1953
Born 1884 in Siberia, Russia
Graduated with honors in flute and conducting, imperial Conservatory, St Petersburg
Served in Russian military as conductor of bands
Founded a Siberian music school, then fled Russia in 1921, crossing into China
Joined Russian ballerina Ana Pavlova's Asian tour as assistant conductor
Hired to conduct the fledgling Tokyo symphony until a massive earthquake in 1923
Escaped Japan by ship to San Francisco with his wife in search of a place to settle
Accepted Mary Dodge's offer to conduct the Portland Junior Symphony, 1924, and stayed for 30 years
Primary Assistants to the conductor: Mary V. Dodge 1924–30, James Eoff 1930–53
More Info
A letter to Mr. Gershkovich from Alfred A. Knopf.
Radio Broadcasts
PJS burst into the spotlight through early nation-wide radio broadcasts.
An excerpt from The Musical Leader.
Excerpts from the Press
Mr. Gershkovitch and the orchestra gained popularity in print too.
Jacques Gershkovitch leads a rehearsal of the Portland Junior Symphony in 1930.
Jacques Gershkovitch conducting a rehearsal of the Portland Junior Symphony, late 1940s.
Jacob Avshalomov conducting.
Jacob Avshalomov, 1954–1995
Born 1919 in China
As a child, learned Chinese, English, Russian, and French, studied piano and composition with his Siberian composer father, Aaron Avshalomov
Graduated high school by age 15, and came to the US in 1935
Moved to Portland to live with his father's colleague, Jacques Gershkovitch, while attending Reed College
Played percussion and cello with the PJS, 1939–40, met his future wife, Doris Felde
Studied two vears of composition and orchestration at Eastman School of Music
Stationed in London and DC for WW II, then received a teaching tellowship at Columbia University, 1946–54
After Mr. Gershkovitch's death, he became the longest serving PJS/PYP Music Director
Primarv Assistants to the Conductor: James Eoff, Eugene Kaza, Norman Leyden, Tomás Svoboda
Photo: Edmund Keene
More Info
Mr. Avshalomov with Robert Mann, 1950s
Photo: Eve Nickerson
1959 PJS Rehearsal
1981 Spoleto Festival
"When I saw your program, I couldn't believe my eyes, and now that I have heard you, I can't believe my. ears."
—Gian Carolo Menotti
1981 Spoleto Festival Press
Rehearsal with Isaac Stern, 1961
Mr. and Mrs. Avshalomov
Concertmaster Valerie Poullette with Mr. Avshalomov, 1970
Photo: Dick Powers
OEPBS Documentary
The PJS is filmed for a documentary on Oregon Educational and Public Broadcasting Service (OEPBS) in 1976.
Jacob Avshalomov conducting.
PYP on Tour
1970: England, Italy, and Portugal
1984: Belgrade, Novisad, Zagreb, Graz, Linz, Rijeka, Yugoslavia, and Vienna, Austria.
1992: Sapporo, Japan, and Seoul, South Korea
More Info
1970
British Isles
1970
Teatro Regio, Parma, Italy
Photo: Jerry Baker
1984
Congress Hall, Graz, Austria
Photo: Jerry Baker
1984
PYP onstage with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Leonard Bernstein.
1984
1992
Chaperones Mrs. Segerstrom and Mrs. Oringdulph with host dignitary.
1992
Can you identify this site from PYP's 1992 tour to Japan and Korea?
Jacob Avshalomov
Photo: Victoria Jicha 2012
Huw Edwards, 1995–2002
Born in Wales
Active as a conductor from age 17
Studied at the University of Surrey, England
Won conducting competition to study at Southern Methodist University, 1988
Lecturer and doctoral candidate at Northwestern University, 1991–1995
Became the orchestra's third Music Director and has often been invited by David Hattner to guest conduct
Mr. Edwards guided PYP safely through world events including the Millenium, a tour "Down Under" and 9/11.
Ensemble conductor: Jonn Hubbard, YSE
More Info
Sforzando Magazine
75th Season
Musicians celebrating the 75th Season with Mayor Vera Katz at City Hall.
Huw Edwards Conducting
ASCAP-Youth Orchestra Award
PYP Celebrates 75 Years
Mei-Ann Chen, 2002–2007
Born in Taiwan
Came to the US in 1989 to study violin
Lived with Marylou Speaker Churchill, PYP alumna (1964) and violinist with the Boston svmphony
Received undergrad degree in violin performance, New England Conservatory, then became NEC's first student to receive simultaneous master's degrees in violin and conducting
Earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting, University of Michigan
Served 2002–2007, as PYP's fourth Music Director and first female conductor since founder Mary Dodge
Ensemble Conductors: John Hubbard, YSE; Larry Johnson, PYWE
More Info
Mei-Ann Makes History!
Carnegie Hall
Musicians backstage at Carnegie Hall, 2004.
Sister City
Kaohsiung Sister City appreciation from PYP's 2007 Asian tour.
Boston Commons
Portland Youth Philharmonic on tour performing at the Market in Boston Commons, 2004.
David Hattner, 2008–Present
First American-born Music Director of РУР
Graduated from Northwestern University with honors in clarinet pertormance
Conducting Fellow at American Academy of Conducting, Aspen, CO, 3 summers
Expanded PYP's core ensembles, adding Camerata РYР Chamber Orchestra, and Portland Youth Percussion Ensemble (PYPE), annually enrolling about 300 students
Known for multi-media, interdisciplinary collaborations between professional artists and PYP musicIans, Hattner is laser-focused on excellence in performance and music education
His Youth Orchestra Commissioning Initiative (YOCI) gave work to composers of color and women during the Covid pandemic while expanding awareness about new repertoire for youth orchestras
During Hattner's tenure, PYP ensembles have premiered many new and previously unheard works by women composers and composers of color
Ensemble Conductors: Carol Sindell, YSE; Ines Voglar Belgique, PYSE; Larry Johnson, PYWE, PYCO; Giancarlo Castro D'Addona, PYWE
Photo: Bev Standish
More Info
Photo: Rachel Hadiashar
Camerata PYP Chamber Orchestra, 2023
Photo: Bev Standish
Hattner Conducting
Rehearsal on stage at Grant Park, Chicago, 2014. PYP was invited to play by Carlos Kalmar, then conductor of the Grant Park Music Festival and the Oregon Symphony.
More Info
2014 Grant Park Music Festival
Orchestra rehearsing for its 2014 debut at the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago.
Photo: Zachary C. Person
Ruth Gipps' Symphony No. 3
Mr. Hattner conducts the USA premiere of Ruth Gipps' Symphony No. 3 on March 4, 2023.
New Year's 2015
PYP Orchestra and Pink Martini with Ari Shapiro at a rehearsal for the 2015 New Year's performance at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
Tomás Svoboda Symphony No. 2
Composer Tomás Svoboda with David Hatter during a 2017 rehearsal for the world premiere of his Symphony No. 2.
Svoboda wrote this Symphony in 1963, dedicated to his future wife Jana. The Czech Philharmonic was scheduled to premiere the work, but canceled its performance when the entire Svoboda family fled the country in 1964.
Mary Dodge was...
"a force to be reckoned with..."
Ruth Saunders Leupold who studied with Mary in Burns and played in the first PJS concert, remarked that Mary Dodge was "a force to be reckoned with who set about correcting flaws in character with the same intensity that she corrected flaws in bowing." Others described her as "energetic," "passionate," "dedicated," and "filled with fervor." Indeed, she was all of these, and because she was, we are celebrating PYP's Centennial today.
- Janet Martin Dodge, granddaughter
Mary Dodge visiting Portland Junior Symphony rehearsal, 1954.
Photo: Allan J. de Lay
