At Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, we believe everyone deserves the right to play. For almost 30 years, BYSO’s Intensive Community Program has existed to break through financial and cultural accessibility barriers that prevent students from underrepresented communities from accessing classical music education and training. Through weekly lessons, customized instruction, and opportunities to mentor, teach, and compete, our ICP students are able to achieve musical excellence. We recently spoke with Israel Anselme and Moussa Gueye, both 2023 alumni of ICP, about their recent experience working at this summer’s ICP camp, and how it brought them back to their time in the program.
Intensive Community Program (ICP) Summer Camp, 2026
Israel and Moussa are proud and active members of our alumni community, and were excited at the opportunity to connect with the next generation of ICP students. When asked what it was like, Moussa replies, “It was really, really fun. It was really great to see, we could see ourselves in the young kids. They’re really curious, and naturally always asking questions, and it was really reassuring to know they were in it.” He adds, “It showed me how hard it probably was to deal with us! Seeing that now, seeing the effort it takes, gives me a lot of respect for the faculty.” While assisting our faculty and spending time getting to know our new students, it was apparent to them that ICP still embodied the same collaborative, supportive energy that they felt during their own time in the program. Israel noted, “It showed me how much the ICP notion of family holds up. I’m very glad to see that it’s still ongoing and that the next generation is still so passionate about music.”
Israel Anselme (left) and Moussa Gueye (right) during their time as BYSO students.
For Israel and Moussa, their own experience in ICP started back in late 2011. Israel remembers seeing a commercial for BYSO while he was watching cartoons. “I thought they sounded so good. I told my dad it was something I wanted to try out for.” His dad agreed, and the audition was where he met Moussa for the first time. Moussa had been at a birthday party when he first learned about BYSO. “One of the other parents came up to my mom and told her that her son was doing ICP. I’d shown some interest in music, and clearly my mom knew that I was interested in some form of self-expression.” Though the process was highly selective, with an acceptance rate of just 16%, both Israel and Moussa successfully completed their auditions and earned their places in BYSO’s Intensive Community Program. Both alums agree that “the rest was history!”
Over their 11 years in ICP, Israel and Moussa grew very close as friends. Some of their fondest memories were simply of getting to hang out and connect with other ICP students during their snack breaks. Their shared commitment to their art drove them further as musicians, and Moussa shares that “I could tell me and Israel really bounced off of each other and helped push each other to improve.” Moussa recalls bringing home his first gold medal from a solo festival competition, and how much it meant: “It was really affirming to me and made me want to keep pushing forward and advancing with my instrument.”
“BYSO definitely taught me a lot about discipline and showing up and learning your music, but also about having fun while doing it.” – Israel Anselme, ‘23
Both credit BYSO’s extremely supportive environment as essential in their growth as musicians. Starting in ICP on violin, they later switched to viola, which they now both study—at separate conservatories. Despite the transition away from the ICP family he’d come to know, Israel, now at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, still felt their support. “I had to find my way and make sure I was doing my own thing and staying consistent. Even if I didn’t feel completely at ease because I didn’t have my BYSO community at my back, I was still able to navigate and do what I needed to do and still have fun playing music.” Moussa, now at Mannes School of Music at The New School, shares how the high-level training BYSO offers prepared him for this next step: “Now going into this professional stage, it’s definitely helped me in the conservatory environment. I think BYSO really prepared me for being around a lot of dedicated players.”
“Through the whole 11 years, I always felt supported, and never this pressure or competitive feeling…it was never an unhealthy environment, I think everyone we worked with was very supportive.” – Moussa Gueye, ‘23
When asked how BYSO differs from other similar organizations, Israel shares: “Even after BYSO, they still make sure you’re connected with the community no matter how old you are.” He continues: “They make sure you’re still family, no matter your age or how far you’ve gone, and you always have a place to come back to.” And to those considering joining BYSO, they had the following to say:
“All your time is well-spent at BYSO. Just enjoy being at BYSO, it’s one-in-a-million. I’d love to experience it again, I love BYSO with all my heart.” – Israel Anselme, ‘23
“There’s nothing like getting to play with other people your age who are at the highest level in Boston. Every single program brings the best out of every student.” – Moussa Gueye, ‘23
Are you, or someone you know, a (G)BYSO alum with an interesting story or life update to share? Contact Delilah Rau, Development Operations Assistant, at dgrau@bu.edu or (617) 358-6119.
Photography by Michael J. Lutch.