BYSO's E-Newsletter: February 2018
60th ANNIVERSARY SPRING CONCERT
Sunday, April 29th at 3:30pm
Symphony Hall
  BOSTON YOUTH SYMPHONY
Federico Cortese, Conductor

MESSIAEN Les offrandes oubliées
COPLAND Four Motets
BERNSTEIN Chichester Psalms
RAVEL Daphnis and Chloe, Suite Nos. 1 and 2

Leipzig Gewandhaus Youth Choir
Leipzig Opera Youth Choir
REPERTORY ORCHESTRA
Mark Miller, Conductor 
WAGNER Overture to The Flying Dutchman
 
YOUNG PEOPLE'S STRING ORCHESTRA
Marta Żurad, Conductor

On April 29, 2018 at 3:30pm at Symphony Hall in Boston, over 300 of BYSO’s young musicians will have the opportunity to perform in a joint concert with choral students from Leipzig, Germany as part of an international exchange and in honor of BYSO’s 60 th anniversary season. BYSO has traveled the world, performing in 15 countries and on six continents. In April, BYSO will host the first international residency/exchange program in its history, welcoming the Leipzig Gewandhaus Youth Choir and the Leipzig Opera Youth Choir to Boston for musical rehearsals and cultural exchange opportunities in anticipation of their joint April 29 th performance under the direction of BYSO Music Director, Federico Cortese. BYSO’s 60 th anniversary season will culminate with BYSO musicians traveling to Leipzig in June to perform with their youth choirs at Bachfest – the world’s foremost annual international festival focusing on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and his contemporaries. Performances will be held in the outdoor market and at the prestigious Gewandhaus concert hall. 
 
Catherine Weiskel, BYSO's Executive Director stated: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to create such a culturally enriching experience for our musicians both in Boston and in Leipzig. In today’s world it is ever more important to understand and experience other cultures, values and history. To gain such an experience through music making is something that will have a lasting impact on our student for the rest of their lives."
with support from:
60TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
Join us as we celebrate our milestone 60 th Anniversary on March 10 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston!

Tickets on sale now at www.BYSOweb.org/gala

With our 60 th Anniversary, we honor the many members of our community who have contributed to our success as we celebrate our city, our home, our leaders, and our alumni.

The Honorees:
Martin J. Walsh, Mayor of Boston
Boston University, College of Fine Arts
George Keches, BYSO President Emeritus
Robert Beaser, Class of 1972

BYSO’s 60 th Anniversary Gala is soon! We are looking forward to a great celebration on March 10, 2018, but do not wait until then to join in the fun – our silent auction is online NOW! Bid on a host of exciting packages, from a trip to Italy, a curated case of wine, a one-of-a-kind Boston foodie tour and more!

Go to www.BYSOweb.org/gala , register to participate, and start bidding!
FEDERICO CORTESE JOINS BSO PANEL
DURING LEIPZIG WEEK IN BOSTON
"Gewandhaus and Symphony Hall: Spaces for Music"
BYSO was excited to celebrate Leipzig Week with the Boston Symphony Orchestra ! BYSO's Music Director, Federico Cortese joined a panel including Professor Christoph Wolff, acoustician David Griesinger, and BSO Principal Oboe John Ferrillo for a multi-media exploration of two of the world's great concert halls. During this free event at the Boston Public Library ' s Rabb Hall, panelists considered what makes Symphony Hall and the Leipzig Gewandhaus great, and how the two are connected architecturally, historically, and spiritually. A short film featuring BSO Associate Conductor Ken-David Masur acquainted Boston audiences with the second Gewandhaus of 1884. The Gewandhaus-Quartett opened the evening with a performance of the first movement of Mendelssohn's String Quartet in D, Op. 44, No. 1. in Rabb Hall.


BYSO OPERA
SOLD OUT SUCCESS!
On January 28th BYSO presented a sold out performance of Bizet’s Carmen . Eleven years ago, BYSO's Music Director Federico Cortese envisioned BYSO presenting a full length opera by a youth orchestra, and today our acclaimed and unique opera program attracts an international audience for sold out performances every year and continues to be the only youth orchestra to do so. We are so proud of the commitment of our young students and everyone who contributed to the success of this performance.
Photos by Michael J. Lutch
CELEBRATING THE FACES OF BYSO
SPOTLIGHT SERIES
Roger Cawdette, BYS, Viola
"I have made some of my favorite memories (at BYSO)
simply by saying yes and taking a chance on music."
What is your most memorable moment at BYSO?
There have certainly been a lot of memorable moments at BYSO, and I laugh just thinking about them, but one moment that I will always remember is my first rehearsal with JRO during my first year at BYSO Maine Camp. It was almost seven years ago and Adrian was the conductor of JRO at the time, and I remember being so nervous about playing in a new ensemble but also being so excited to finally play in a full orchestra of strings, winds, brass, and everything else. It was a rehearsal in the Summer House, which all BYSO musicians know has the biggest spiders in the world, so that combined with the Mozart we were playing, Adrian's energy, and just the excitement of camp in general, made it a memorable experience to say the least. Aside from that moment, I'll also never forget other things like my first rehearsal with Fed, opera rehearsals at Sanders, and a fantastic performance of Ein Heldenleben. 
 
What does music (and BYSO) bring to your life? 
BYSO has given me a lot throughout the years. When I was younger and new to the world of music, I didn't enjoy orchestra or playing the viola nearly as much as I do now. But as I've gotten older, I've started to notice all the great things that music and BYSO have allowed me to experience in life; the opportunities, the memories, and certainly the friendships. Without BYSO, I wouldn't know what it's like to perform full operas, an opportunity that really isn't available anywhere else in the country. At this point, I couldn't imagine what it would be like to not spend my Sundays at BU, rehearsing and really just enjoying myself. It'll be difficult next year when I go off to college, but I am eternally grateful and happy for all of the things I've learned at BYSO .
 
You have been a member of BYSO's ICP program for many years. What advice might you give to a young member who is just starting to play an instrument in ICP?
If I had to give advice to an incoming member, I would encourage them to make the most of the opportunities made available to them through playing an instrument, whether that be joining a chamber group, teaching younger students, or even attending a concert they have free tickets to. I personally have made some of my most favorite memories simply by saying yes and taking a chance on music. I would also tell them to keep up their practice of course!
 
How do you feel about the upcoming cultural exchange/residency with the Leipzig choirs?
I really cannot wait until April, I am so excited to start rehearsals with the Leipzig choirs, especially because we have some really awesome repertoire lined up for the concert. Not only are we playing fun technically-challenging music like the Daphnis and Chloe but we also have some really beautiful music in the Bernstein Chichester Psalms which will sound incredible in Symphony Hall and the Gewandhaus. I anticipate it being a little tricky communicating with the Leipzig musicians but I'm ready to get to work and possibly learn a little bit of conversational German! I'm also looking forward to our trip to Leipzig, mainly because we'll be living with the musicians there and getting to immerse ourselves in the German culture. It's really great that we're spending most of our time there as opposed to traveling around a lot, I think it'll give the orchestra a chance to become acquainted with the environment and feel of Leipzig. In terms of what I hope to get out of this exchange, it would be nice to make friends in Leipzig that I can keep in touch with after the tour and possibly into life. But also, I'm looking forward to exploring Leipzig and getting the chance to see the inspiration behind some of the great works of Bach, Wagner, and Mendelssohn. 

Are you a member of the BYSO community with a story to share? Submit your story and submit your selfie to us HERE . You may be featured in the next #FacesOfBYSO story!
BYSO AWARDED
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
GRANT FOR ICP
 
BYSO was awarded a $35,000 Art Works grant from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) to support the Intensive Community Program (ICP). The Art Works category focuses on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and the strengthening of communities through the arts. BYSO has received funding from Art Works for ICP since 1999, and is grateful for the continued support from the NEA! 
 
It is energizing to see the impact that the arts are making throughout the United States. These NEA-supported projects, such as this one to the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, are good examples of how the arts build stronger and more vibrant communities, improve well-being, prepare our children to succeed, and increase the quality of our lives,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “ At the National Endowment for the Arts, we believe that all people should have access to the joy, opportunities and connections the arts bring.”
 
For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news .
Photo by Michael J. Lutch
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Gréta Ásgeirsson ’09
From BYSO to Washington
As Principal Harpist for the United States Air Force Band, Gréta now spends her days touring the country, charged with a powerful mission: to honor, inspire, and impact. Gréta joined BYSO in 2004 and spent five years in the orchestras, becoming deeply involved in the BYSO community. Now almost ten years since she graduated, Gréta continues to be an involved member of the BYSO community and maintains her role as Harp Coach on BYSO faculty, working alongside the same conductors and coaches from whom she once learned. Back in DC, her role with the US Air Force keeps her busy all year long. In January she participated in the Air Force Band’s guest artist series, in February she was part of the collegiate symposium, a free opportunity for college and graduate students to work alongside professionals, and March welcomes a flurry of activities as the Band prepares for tour. “It’s all about accessibility,” Gréta explains. “All performances are free and we try to engage the community in as many activities as possible. Wherever we go, we give a concert every night and we even invite high school and college students to join us side-by-side for some of the pieces.” Beyond the military, she stays sharp playing with other ensembles internationally. Gréta says her time in BYSO significantly contributed to her decision to become a professional musician. The experiences and values she came away from BYSO with have shaped her entire approach to music, and she is thrilled to be able to spend her career spreading the joy of music wherever she goes.

UPCOMING

Please join us in commemorating 60 monumental years of BYSO history during our 2017-2018 season!

Sat, Apr. 14 , 2018, 12pm
Boston Symphony Hal l
BSO FAMILY CONCERT
"STEP IN TIME"
Young People's String Orchestras
Member of the Intensive Community Program
Marta Żurad, Conductor

Fri, Apr. 20, 2018, 6:30pm
Boston Children’s Museum
Petit Ensemble
Marta Żurad , Conductor
Free with $1 Target Friday Admission to Museum
Sun, Apr. 22, 2018, 10am
BU Concert Hall
Violin and Chamber Master Class
Peter Zazofsky

Sun, Apr. 29, 2018, 3:30pm
Boston Symphony Hall
Boston Youth Symphony
Repertory Orchestra
Young People's String Orchestra

Fri, May 11, 2018, 6:30pm
Boston Children’s Museum
Young People’s String Orchestra
Marta Zurad Conductor
Free with $1 Target Friday Admission to Museum
Sun, May 13, 2018, 11am
BU Concert Hall
Petit Ensemble

Sun, May 27, 2018, 3pm
Kresge Auditorium at MIT
Boston Youth Symphony
Repertory Orchestra

Sun, Jun. 3, 2018, 3pm
Kresge Auditorium at MIT
Junior Repertory Orchestra
Preparatory Winds

To learn more about our 60th anniversary season and the exciting concerts we offer this season please click here to see our 60th Season Brochure
Tag us on social with #BYSO60 and #FacesofBYSO
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VOLUNTEER FOR BYSO
BYSO offers volunteer opportunities throughout the season! Contact BYSO for more information.
 Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras
855 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215 | 617-353-3348