Who We Are
Music for Children, Inc and the Piedmont Youth and Family Orchestras, two organizations that both have deep roots in Chapel Hill, have reunited to help foster meaningful music education in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro/Durham area, offering collaborative programs for students playing string instruments, their adult family members who play string instruments, area string teachers, and our community.
Music for Children was originally formed in 1962 to supplement music programs in Chapel Hill public schools and individual music studios. MFC promotes experiences that are vital to musical growth, that strengthen connections between music and community, and that nurture cognitive, emotional and social development, as well as a profound love of music.
As Music for Children has done for many years, we continue to offer funding to dedicated students who need financial assistance to further their musical education. Our programming and current emphases are based on the needs and expertise of the musical community and evolve continuously.
Piedmont Youth and Family Orchestras are the orchestral arm of Music for Children. PYFO is two ensembles – the PYFO Prelude Orchestra and the PYFO Chamber Orchestra – which are comprised of intergenerational musicians who share a love of music and an enthusiasm for learning through music making.
Founded in 1962 by violinist Dorothy Alden (above: first row, right; right: demonstrating string instruments to school kids) as the Chapel Hill Young People's Orchestra, PYFO is based in Chapel Hill and draws musicians primarily from Chapel Hill and Carrboro. We particularly welcome home school families and students whose schools do not offer orchestral instruction. The orchestras perform twice a year in Chapel Hill, once in the winter and once in the spring. PYFO also perform community pop-up concerts throughout the year.
Piedmont Youth and Family Orchestras (PYFO) offer high-quality orchestral training to talented intergenerational musicians in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro/Durham area.
PYFO began in Chapel Hill in 1962, growing and evolving until 2016. Adult family members were welcomed starting in 2010, turning PYO into PYFO. (Fun fact: when James Taylor was a student he played cello with the PYFO!) For close to five decades, PYFO has strived to provide a supportive environment for motivated students to progress musically through teamwork, exposure to a challenging repertoire, and a collaborative synergy.
Now in its 55th season (after a brief hiatus from 2016-2025—we are back!), PYFO continues to grow and share the love of music and music making across generations.
“I like getting to play in an orchestra that is challenging but also supportive and not competitive.”
— current PYFO student“It was important to us to raise up kids who understand what classical music is, and to give kids who were not sports oriented a team activity.”
— former PYO Board President