T
he Pittsburgh Youth Concert Orchestra (PYCO)
School of Music has been enriching the minds of
local musicians in the Wexford and surrounding
areas since it opened in January 2016.
The PYCO School of Music features two recital
halls, numerous classrooms and studios—all
equipped with Steinway pianos—and a full-
service music store. The academic side is operated by PYCO, and
a board of directors comprised of musicians and business leaders
runs the business side.
PYCO is led by Pablo Ardiles, Artistic Director. Ardiles, 51,
and his wife Claudia were born in Argentina and have been living
in Pittsburgh for 26 years. The two are residents of Wexford, and
have two children—Santiago and Gabriela.
Ardiles obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Chamber Music, with
a concentration in violin performance and conducting, at the
University of La Plata in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and his Master
of Music in violin performance at Carnegie Mellon University. He
also holds an Artist Diploma from Duquesne University. While at
Carnegie Mellon, Ardiles studied with Aaron Bitran and Andrés
Cárdenes, former concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony.
Ardiles has coached and conducted several youth orchestras, as
well as ensembles and professional groups in the USA and abroad.
In Pittsburgh, he has conducted the Pittsburgh Philharmonic,
PMEA District 1 Orchestra and PYCO. He has been the artistic
director of PYCO since 2006, and has conducted the group both
in the USA and during international tours in the European cities
of Salzburg, Vienna, Prague, London, Stratford-upon-Avon and
Paris.
The PYCO School of Music was created to give a home to the
Pittsburgh Youth Concert Orchestra, a nonprofit organization that
was established in 2006, and to provide a comprehensive music
program and music resources to children, youth and adults in the
Pittsburgh area.
“PYCO was created by a team of musicians from the Pittsburgh
Youth Concert Orchestra and a group of people committed to
music education in the community,” says Ardiles. “PYCO was
brought to Wexford because most of the families in the orchestra
were coming from the North Hills area, and a full-service music
store was needed to fill the void left by the closing of Musik
Innovations.”
The PYCO School of Music offers private lessons for all ages
and instruments, including voice, in addition to classes for
early childhood music, music theory, composition and Royal
Conservatory programs.
The school also offers the following ensembles: Symphony
Orchestra (9th through 12th grades), Chamber Strings (6th
through 9th grades), Junior Strings (4th through 7th grades),
Junior Wind Ensemble (5th through 8th grades), Chamber
Woodwinds (8th through 12th grades), Chamber Brass (8th
through 12th grades), Youth Choir (7th through 12th grades),
Jazz Ensembles (6th through 12th grades) and Rock and Fiddle
Groups (6th through 12th grades).
The full-service music retail store has more than 30,000 sheet
music titles in stock, plus gifts and accessories. It also offers rentals
and sales of all instruments. Brass and woodwind rentals, sales and
repair are offered in the location by Hollis & Germann.
“The PYCO School of Music offers a beautiful and comfortable,
well-designed music facility,” notes Ardiles. “Along with its well-
crafted music programs and dedicated professional teachers,
musicians of all ages can share and develop their love of music and
musical pursuits in a nurturing and caring environment.”
He adds that the school is “the only private high-quality music
instruction facility of its kind in the Greater Pittsburgh area. By
being located in Wexford, a thriving family-oriented community,
the PYCO School of Music adds to the vibrancy, attraction and
retention of families in the North Hills area.”
Future plans for the PYCO School of Music include launching
an innovative short-session chamber music program, expanding
its composition and theory programs and continuing its
community outreach.
The Pittsburgh Youth Concert Orchestra is currently gearing
up for its third international tour of Europe in July 2018. The
group will perform in Venice, Florence and Rome. All musicians
and guests— regardless of whether they are current members of
PYCO—are welcome to join.
The PYCO music store is open Monday through Thursday from
noon to 9 p.m., Friday from noon to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m.
to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. The School of Music is open
every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. by appointment depending on
what program, class or event is taking place outside of the music
store hours.
For more information, call 724.934.PLAY (7529), visit pycosom.
com or stop by the school at 150 Lake Drive, Wexford, 15090. ■
The PYCO School of Music Recital Hall is a beautiful open space
overlooking North Park where events such a