1998 International Tour History: England and Ireland
In 1998, the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras' (BYSO) 40th Anniversary Season culminated with its 14th International tour to England and Ireland. The nintey-five Senior Orchestra members under the direction of David Commanday, performed in six cities throughout the two-week tour.
The tour began at the world famous Symphony Hall in Birmingham, England. Making her international debut, the Boston Youth Symphony concerto competition winner Susan Yun performed the Kabalevsky Cello Concerto No. 1 with the Senior Orchestra and received rave reviews with a headline of "Susan Yun is just enchanting."
The group continued on to perform at the prestigious Aldeburgh Festival, founded by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears. Stephen Salters met the orchestra to perform Copland's Old American Songs. The hall was filled and the glorious applause gave the orchestra an opportunity to play an encore.
The students left with high spirits to perform at their next stop, the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham. Stopping for only one day, the student's astonished the Nottingham audience with Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. If any of the locals had any questions about the high level of achievement of the youth orchestra, afterwards it is sure they would say "It Ain't Necessarily So."
After a long trip to Dublin, Ireland the students were honored at a reception at the American Embassy by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith. A BYSO tour quartet performed and everyone huddled into the beautiful house to avoid the typical five minute Dublin rain storm.
In Ireland, the students visited the Book of Kells at Trinity College and met with members of the Dublin Youth Orchestras and the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland who provided them tours of the city. The concert that evening was performed at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. Following the concert a reception was held in the magnificent chandelier lobby.
After Dublin, the students continued on to London, England where they spent two days sightseeing. Highlights included: Attending a service at Westminster Abbey, touring Windsor Castle, and seeing The Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. After the London adventure, the tour concluded with two cathedral concerts in Peterborough and Arundel. The students also took sightseeing tours of Cambridge and Brighton. The BYSO received an honorable mention award by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in recognition for the programming of American music on foreign tours.