Student Spotlight: Meeka Touré Ortiz
Longtime Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras musician represented Boston at national festival advancing equity in classical music After more than a decade of musical growth with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO), graduating senior Meeka Touré Ortiz, a double bassist in BYSO’s Intensive Community Program (ICP), was selected – along with nine other BYSO students and […]
Sofia Hernandez-Williams Goes the Distance
In January 2026, BYSO cellist, Sofia Hernandez-Williams competed in the Junior Division of the prestigious National Sphinx Competition in Detroit, Michigan. Sofia earned Second Place among the nation’s top young string players. After advancing to the finals and performing Haydn’s C Major Concerto with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, Sofia was, in her mom Caroline Reiner-Williams’ […]
MLK Scholars Become BYSO Youth Center for Music Ambassadors
Throughout the summer, our MLK Scholars visited and learned about our new home at 235 Huntington Avenue. In the video below, they take you on a tour inside the building as renovations are underway! Hi, my name is Regiana, one of the 2023 MLK Scholars at BYSO. I have been in BYSO’s Intensive Community Program (ICP) […]
Senior Awards 2022
Each year, we award the Robert Hardt Memorial Award and the Philip J. Smith Award to seniors in the graduating class. Read about the awards and this year’s recipients below! The Robert Hardt Memorial Award The Robert Hardt Memorial Award for outstanding musical achievement is awarded every year to an outstanding BYSO senior who displays […]
BYSO Graduating Class of 2022- List of Colleges
Here is a list of the colleges that our BYSO class of 2022 will be attending in the Fall! We are so proud of all our talented seniors and so grateful for everything they have contributed to BYSO, and we know they will continue to thrive and make a difference no matter what their next […]
2021-2022 Season Appreciation
As we celebrate the end of BYSO’s 64th season, we would like to take a moment to appreciate all of the wonderful people who have helped make this season so great! Thank you to all of you for the work you’ve done this season, and for helping us continue to be adaptable, adjust to any […]
BYSO’s 64th Season Concerto Competition Winners
The winners of this year’s virtual concerto competition are… Boston Youth Symphony Winner: Alexander Erlich-Herzog, Clarinet. Mozart, Clarinet Concerto in A Major. Repertory Orchestra Winners: Eileen Ho, Violin. Bruch, Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, mvt. 1 Abigail Shin, Violin. Saint-Saëns, Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, mvt. 1 Congratulations to everyone that […]
In Memoriam: Edward Berkeley
It is with the deepest of sadness that BYSO acknowledges the sudden passing of Ed Berkeley, our beloved opera Stage Director. On July 19 Ed died just before the opening of a production of “The Magic Flute” that he staged at the Aspen Music Festival. https://www.aspentimes.com/news/aspen-music-festival-opera-director-edward-berkeley-dies/ “Ed has been a crucial partner in our opera […]
BYSO: A Year Through Video
Despite the limitations of social distancing created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra musicians have persevered and worked hard to make music in a virtual format. A few videos of these special remote performances are featured below. We hope you enjoy! We hope you have enjoyed celebrating this year of music-making with […]
BYSO’s 63rd Season Concerto Competition Winners
The winners of this year’s virtual concerto competition are… Boston Youth Symphony Winner: Sean Jang, violin, Sarasate – Carmen Fantasy Repertory Orchestra Winner: Alette Williams, violin, Mendelssohn-Violin Concerto, Movement 1 Boston Youth Symphony Honorable Mention: Emily DeNucci, flute. Ibert, Flute Concerto Repertory Orchestra Honorable Mention: Sofia Zhao, flute, Chaminade – Flute Concertino Honorable Mention: Karthik […]