Massachusetts Cultural Council Ranks BYSO #1 in Three-Year Grant Cycle
In September 2007, the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), the state’s agency for arts, humanities and sciences, announced its continued support for the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO). For this three-year granting cycle, the BYSO was ranked first among all orchestras in the state for its quality, community outreach and fiscal and administrative management. Panelists who decided on the ranking stated that the BYSO’s premier ensemble, the Boston Youth Symphony, was of extremely high artistic quality – superior to that of many adult ensembles.
The panel noted that the BYSO’s soloists and commissioning are impressive. During the 50th Anniversary the Boston Youth Symphony will perform with world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma as well as commission a piece by Robert Beaser, a BYSO alumnus and Chair of the Composition Department at the Juilliard School.
With the success of the BYSO’s nationally recognized outreach program, the Intensive Community Program, which serves inner-city Boston youth and has dramatically increased diversity in the BYSO’s orchestras from 1% to 15%, the panel acknowledged the importance of this program in the organization’s life.
The MCC also noted the strong financial support that the orchestra members’ parents give the BYSO and stated that the organization had exceptional fiscal and administrative management.
Other orchestras reviewed and awarded by the panel included the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Handel and Haydn Society.
With this top ranking, the BYSO will receive an 80% increase in its funding during this three- year grant cycle.