Ariel Friedman ’04: Musicianship and Motherhood
Ari and Mia Friedman “That high level of rehearsal and performance was really special. There were moments that were grueling, but it was so rewarding overall.” – Ariel Friedman, 04 Growing up in Newton as part of a musical household, auditioning for (G)BYSO in middle school was not only a natural step for Ariel, but […]
Increasing My Impact for Future Generations: Caro Pinto, Rabin Society Member
“I want future generations to have what I had, and planned giving felt simple. It was a way to make sure what I’m building now can have a bigger impact in the future.” – Caro Pinto, ‘00 For Caro Pinto, a 2000 alum, BYSO was about more than music from the very beginning–it was about […]
Dacha Thurber ’20: Staying Connected, Passing It On
“Music isn’t invented by one person or one orchestra,” he says. “It gets passed along. And if I can continue that, that feels very special.” – Dacha Thurber, ‘20 When Dacha first picked up the violin, he wasn’t yet sure where music would take him, but he knew he wanted to make it with others. […]
Gabriel Lefkowitz ’05: Leading Louisville Youth Orchestra
“Being a part of BYSO, for me, meant having the privilege of making music with other likeminded people, with a staff that held us to really high standards and cared so deeply about the educational experience and providing the opportunity for young people to be artists.” – Gabe Lefkowitz, ‘05 Last month, Gabe Lefkowitz ’05 […]
Sammy Andonian ’16: From BYSO to BSO
“The experience I gained in BYSO gave me the confidence to know that I’m well-equipped with skills as an orchestral musician. And it’s not by accident, but it’s because of years and years of rehearsing every Sunday” – Sammy Andonian ‘16 BYSO is so pleased to have a longstanding partnership with Boston Symphony Orchestra, BYSO/BSO: […]
Eran Egozy ’89, BYSO’s Capital Campaign Chair
Eran Egozy ’89 on Making the BYSO Youth Center for Music a Reality “I want to give everyone the opportunity to contribute to this project—to be able to say, ‘I helped make that happen.’” – Eran Egozy ‘89 Over a decade ago, the idea of the BYSO Youth Center for Music sparked—with the understanding that […]
Caroline Reiner-Williams ’06
“Keep creating music because it will always be there for you.” – Caroline Reiner-Williams ‘06 As a BYSO parent and alumni, as well as the Program Director of the Joy of Music Program in Worcester, Caroline Reiner-Williams ’06 knows the life-changing impact of music education. From her experience playing in BYSO, watching her own kids excel […]
Kevin Chen ’11
“I recognized that I got so much out of BYSO, and that’s why I wanted to give back this year. Hopefully, a lot of people feel that way, and I think they do.” – Kevin Chen ‘11 Looking back on his time playing viola in BYSO, Kevin Chen ’11 recognizes everything the experience brought […]
Diane Nicholeris ’78
“The conductors, coaches, management, and administrative staff are 100% geared towards the students and making this experience meaningful to them. The standards are never compromised.” – Diane Nicholeris ’78 Taking the stage at Sanders Theatre for BYS and REP’s Opening Concert last month, Diane Nicholeris felt excited, sentimental, and nervous all at once. The momentum […]
George Goodwin ’13
“What sticks out to me about BYSO is the growth the average musician goes through – there isn’t another organization that gets those kinds of consistent results in the same amount of time.” – George Goodwin ‘13 Almost ten years after playing Trumpet in BYSO, George Goodwin still remembers the rigor and reward of […]