About Us
Access & Belonging
At Philadelphia Sinfonia, we believe every young musician deserves the opportunity to grow through outstanding orchestral training in a community that is supportive, welcoming, and inspiring.
Our program is built on the idea that success isn’t defined by winning a chair or outperforming peers. Instead, success is defined by growth: musically, personally, and as a member of an ensemble.
We are committed to removing barriers to participation and building a culture where students feel safe, respected, and encouraged to thrive.
Our Commitment
Philadelphia Sinfonia is dedicated to creating an environment where students experience:
- High-quality musical instruction and meaningful artistic challenge
- A non-competitive culture rooted in collaboration and mentorship
- Belonging and respect, across backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences
- Access and opportunity, regardless of financial circumstance
- Community and connection, through shared goals and ensemble learning
We are proud to be a place where students not only develop as musicians, but also as confident young people and community members.
What We Mean by Access & Belonging
Access means reducing barriers that may prevent a student from participating fully in our program, whether those barriers are financial, logistical, or personal.
Belonging means students are welcomed as they are, supported in their growth, and treated with dignity. It means they feel that Sinfonia is a place where they can learn, contribute, and be valued.
We believe excellence and belonging go hand-in-hand. The best music-making happens when students feel supported enough to take risks, ask questions, and grow.
Access in Practice: Removing Barriers to Participation
We recognize that talented students come from every community and every circumstance. We work to ensure that practical barriers do not prevent students from engaging deeply in the Sinfonia experience.
Financial Support
We offer support options such as:
- Tuition assistance and scholarships
- Flexible payment options
- Additional support when unexpected challenges arise
We never want cost to be the reason a student is unable to participate. If your family needs assistance, we encourage you to reach out, confidentially and without hesitation.
Clear Pathways Into Our Ensembles
Students may enter Sinfonia through auditions and placement into one of our ensembles. Our goal is always to match each student with the environment that will best support their growth and success.
Philadelphia Sinfonia provides a full orchestral community across multiple ensembles, offering students a pathway for sustained musical development.
Support for Students New to Youth Orchestra
Not every student arrives with the same background or access to preparation. Sinfonia is a place where students can grow into the expectations of ensemble participation with guidance, patience, and mentorship.
We value effort, curiosity, and commitment, and we believe every student deserves the chance to improve.
Our Learning Environment: Growth Over Competition
Philadelphia Sinfonia is intentionally designed as a supportive, non-competitive program.
We believe students learn best when they are part of a community that is:
- Encouraging rather than intimidating
- Challenging without being harsh
- Focused on progress over ranking
In rehearsal and performance, students are supported to:
- Take musical risks
- Ask questions without fear
- Learn through feedback and repetition
- Strengthen confidence and independence
- Develop leadership through listening, responsibility, and teamwork
Our goal is not simply to build strong musicians, we aim to help students build a lasting relationship with music.
Representation, Repertoire, and Artistic Belonging
We believe students should see and hear the world reflected in the music they perform.
Sinfonia is committed to programming that includes a broad range of voices and experiences, and to exploring repertoire that expands beyond the traditional canon. This includes music that highlights:
- Underrepresented composers
- New and emerging works
- Stories shaped by immigration, identity, and community experience
- Creative programming that is meaningful to students and audiences
We view this work as part of artistic excellence, and part of creating an ensemble culture where students feel connected to what they are playing and why it matters.
Community Partnerships & Opportunity
Access and belonging also mean connecting students to opportunities beyond the rehearsal room.
Philadelphia Sinfonia actively seeks partnerships that enrich student experience and deepen community relationships, including:
- Collaborative projects and shared performances
- Side-by-side experiences with professional musicians and ensembles
- Guest artists and student enrichment opportunities
- Public performances that invite and welcome the broader community
We believe community engagement strengthens students as artists and strengthens the cultural ecosystem around them.
Accessibility & Student Support
We want every student to be able to participate fully.
If your student needs support in order to succeed in the Sinfonia environment, whether related to learning needs, health needs, scheduling realities, or other circumstances, we encourage families to communicate with us.
We will always approach these conversations with care, discretion, and a shared goal of student success.
Belonging in Practice
- We build student confidence through a non-competitive, growth-centered culture.
- We provide tuition support and flexible options to reduce financial barriers.
- We cultivate belonging through mentorship, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
- We program music that expands whose stories and voices are heard on stage.
- We strengthen our community through partnerships and opportunities that widen participation.
How to Request Support
If something is making participation difficult, whether financial, logistical, or personal, we want to help.
Please reach out to us directly. Requests are always handled respectfully and confidentially.
Contact:
Managing Director, Philadelphia Sinfonia
Robert Hodges
robert@philadelphiasinfonia.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sinfonia competitive?
Sinfonia is designed to be non-competitive. We focus on growth, mentorship, and ensemble collaboration rather than ranking students against one another.
Do you offer financial aid?
Yes. We offer tuition support options and flexible arrangements. We encourage families to contact us if cost is a barrier.
What if my student is new to youth orchestra?
Students come to Sinfonia with different experiences and levels of preparation. We welcome motivated students and support their growth with guidance and clear expectations.
How are students placed in ensembles?
Placement is based on audition and musical readiness, with the goal of supporting each student in the best environment for learning and confidence-building.
What if my family has scheduling or transportation challenges?
We understand that families manage many obligations. If a barrier is affecting participation, please reach out so we can discuss options and support when possible.
Join Us
At Philadelphia Sinfonia, students don’t just train for performances, they build discipline, confidence, friendships, and a sense of purpose through music.
We are proud to be a community where young musicians are challenged to grow, encouraged to belong, and supported every step of the way.
We welcome you.