Support for our Community - Youth Education

PBO’s Youth Chamber Music Program

This program for young students with 1 to 4 years playing their instruments resumes this summer, July 13 through 31, 2026. The series of nine sessions over three weeks allows young musicians to experience great music, play together, learn about expression, balance, and technique, build friendships, and expand their own musical horizons. The program is held once again at the Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller Street, Belfast. Tuition is intentionally low and subsidized by the Penobscot Bay Orchestra. Full scholarships are available.

For information and an application click here.

We thank Bangor Savings Bank and the Onion Foundation for their sponsorship in making this program possible.

PBO Young Musician Scholarship

The Penobscot Bay Orchestra Young Musician Scholarship is open to all sophomore and junior year high school musicians in the communities of Waldo and Knox counties. This year’s scholarship recipient is Elijah Dayan, and he is being awarded up to 30 private music lessons and will perform with the PBO at either our fall or spring concert.

Educational Outreach

The PBO String Quartet, comprised of players from the Penobscot Bay Orchestra, has created an educational outreach program for local elementary schools, designed to introduce young students to the world of stringed instruments. The quartet presents brief, engaging demonstrations across a variety of musical genres, interwoven with a “show and tell” featuring the violin, viola, and cello. Their goal is to inspire children to explore these instruments and, ultimately, to participate in the enriching experience of playing classical music. You can find a sample video from their recent performance at Camden-Rockport Elementary School here.

We work to support our community through partnerships and musical performances.  

The orchestra uses the arts to stimulate and advance compassionate involvement in significant social issues, and has given over $5,000 in audience donations to the United Midcoast Charities, The Landing Place - Knox County Homeless Coalition, Healthy Lincoln County, the Camden Area Christian Food Pantry, the Interfaith Fuel Fund, Habitat for Humanity, and Waldo County Bounty.

We are now turning our attention to providing musical opportunities to youth in our rural communities, including scholarships, chamber music opportunities, and the chance to learn about playing with an orchestra.