At BYSO we believe that with the proper training every child with dedication and interest has the potential to become an accomplished musician. Unfortunately, many students from inner city communities in Boston lack the financial resources to study classical music outside of their school curriculum.  While some music programs do exist in Boston schools, high quality string instrument training is not one of the major focus areas of this education. Consequently, students from Boston have historically not been able to audition successfully for BYSO’s orchestras. 

In 1998, BYSO set out to address this issue by creating the Intensive Community Program (ICP), a rigorous string instrument training program serving students from Boston’s inner-city. ICP accepts young students (ages 6-8) who show exceptional interest in studying stringed instruments and provides them with need-based financial aid for weekly music lessons, ensemble classes and instrument rental. The purpose of ICP is to bring fine music training to students who may not otherwise have access to it, enabling them to successfully auditions into one of BYSO’s four orchestras.  Once admitted into a BYSO orchestra, ICP students receive support in the form of tuition subsidy, weekly lessons and use of an instrument until they graduate from high school.  Prior to ICP, only 1% of BYSO students represented inner-city communities in Boston. After eleven years, BYSO’s student body diversity has reached a high of 21%.  Currently, there are a total of 75 students in ICP, the oldest in 12th grade and the youngest in first grade.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has supported ICP since its inception in 1998. NEA panelists praised the high artistic quality and teaching methods of ICP, calling it a model music training program for underserved youth.  Locally, the Massachusetts Cultural Council recognized the artistic merit of BYSO and ICP with the 2003 Commonwealth Award, the state’s highest honor in the arts.  In spring 2003 issue of Boston Magazine listed ICP’s Founding Artistic Director, Bonnie Black, as one of Boston’s most influential women due to her work with ICP.

In fall 2009 ICP welcomed a new team: Nicole Cariglia - ICP Director, Marta Zurad - ICP Conductor and Emily Wilson - ICP Coordinator.  

_{- ICP students performing at Symphony Hall, October 2009 -}

_{Photo by Michael J. Lutch}