 | Since 1958, the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO) has served thousands of young musicians from throughout New England. Over the past fifty years, the BYSO has evolved from a single orchestra to one of Boston’s most prestigious arts organizations. |
| The Boston Youth Symphony (BYS) is the most advanced of four different orchestras that comprise the BYSO. This 120-member ensemble is made up of students grades seven through 12 from all over New England. BYS performs a wide range of demanding orchestral repertoire, conducted by Federico Cortese. BYS performs the Dvořák Cello Concerto with master cellist Yo-Yo Ma (see photo: Yo-Yo Ma performs for President Reagan 1987), as well as other works, as part of its 50th anniversary season, at Symphony Hall on May 18 (Sunday), 2008 at 3 p.m. Concertmaster Hillary Ditmars, a 12th grader at Westford Academy in Westford, Massachusetts, said "It is an incredible opportunity for me as an aspiring musician to play this amazing piece with one of the world's most accomplished cellists. The entire orchestra is absolutely thrilled to have the chance to work with Yo-Yo Ma. I am honored to be the concertmaster, and I know it will be an unforgettable experience!" The BYS concludes its Boston season on June 15 with the premiere of a BYSO-commissioned piece, Evening Prayer, by Robert Beaser, at Sanders Theatre, followed by its 19th international tour to perform by invitation at Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Germany, one of the finest concert halls in the world. The many-faceted career of cellist Yo-Yo Ma is testament to his continual search for new ways to communicate with audiences, and to his personal desire for artistic growth and renewal. Whether performing a new concerto, revisiting a familiar work from the cello repertoire, coming together with colleagues for chamber music or exploring musical forms outside of the Western classical tradition, Mr. Ma strives to find connections that stimulate the imagination. Yo-Yo Ma maintains a balance between his engagements as soloist with orchestras throughout the world and his recital and chamber music activities. He draws inspiration from a wide circle of collaborators, each fueled by the artists’ interactions. One of Mr. Ma’s goals is the exploration of music as a means of communication, and as a vehicle for the migrations of ideas, across a range of cultures throughout the world. Expanding upon this interest, Mr. Ma established the Silk Road Project to promote the study of the cultural, artistic and intellectual traditions along the ancient Silk Road trade route that stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. By examining the flow of ideas throughout this vast area, the Project seeks to illuminate the heritages of the Silk Road countries and identify the voices that represent these traditions today. Yo-Yo Ma is strongly committed to educational programs that not only bring young audiences into contact with music but also allow them to participate in its creation. While touring, he takes time whenever possible to conduct master classes as well as more informal programs for students—musicians and non-musicians alike. Event: Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras 50th Anniversary Date: May 18 (Sunday), 2008 at 3 p.m. Location: Symphony Hall Boston, Massachusetts USA | |
| SOURCE: Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras |
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