Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Embarks on Mexico Tour June 12–27 2025

Following the 2024-25 season’s critically acclaimed performances, the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (BPYO)—a tuition-free, 120-member ensemble of talented musicians aged 12 to 21—embarks on a concert tour of Mexico from June 12-27, 2025 under the direction of co-founder and conductor Benjamin Zander. The tour marks another milestone in the BPYO’s mission to “shape future leaders through music,” while simultaneously fostering cultural exchange and artistic excellence.

The BPYO’s tuition-free model enables gifted young musicians from all backgrounds to participate, regardless of financial means. As part of its Crescendo Concert Access Initiative, the Boston Philharmonic is also providing hundreds of complimentary tickets to performances during the tour.

Tour Schedule and Venues:

• June 14: León | Teatro del Bicentenario
• June 17: Veracruz | Foro Boca
• June 19: Xalapa | Sala Principal de Tlaqná
• June 21: Mexico City | Palacio de Bellas Artes
• June 23: Puebla | Auditorio de la Reforma
• June 26: Mexico City | Sala Nezahualcóyotl

Repertoire: The tour program features signature works from the BPYO’s 2024–25 season, including:

• Mahler: Symphony No. 6
• Verdi: Overture to La forza del destino
• Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”)
• Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring

Cultural and Musical Exchanges:

In keeping with its mission to inspire leadership and global citizenship through music, BPYO members will participate in five cultural and musical exchanges with Mexican youth orchestras and local students, including:

• A conducting workshop and side-by-side rehearsal with more than six youth orchestras, in partnership with Orquesta Filharmonica de León, known for its collaborations with some of the most renowned conductors.

• Masterclasses and chamber music workshops with students and faculty at Universidad Veracruzana.

• Open rehearsal with youth musicians and school groups at Bellas Artes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Mexico’s premier cultural and performing arts center, renowned for its murals by Diego Rivera and other prominent artists, located in the heart of Mexico City.

• A two-day immersive program in Puebla, featuring side-by-side rehearsals, breakout sessions, shared meals, and a joint concert showcasing Mexican composers, in collaboration with Esperanza Azteca, a youth orchestra and choir program that provides musical education and social development opportunities for children and teenagers throughout Mexico, particularly those from underserved communities.

• Open side-by-side rehearsal, conducting workshops, and a final performance at Sala Nezahualcóyotl in collaboration with Orquesta Juvenil Eduardo Mata (OJUEM), a prestigious youth orchestra based at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).

About the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra

Founded in 2012 by Benjamin Zander under the auspices of the Boston Philharmonic, the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (BPYO) embraces the motto "Shaping Future Leaders Through Music." Comprising 120 enthusiastic young musicians aged 12 to 21, the BPYO brings together talented instrumentalists at different stages of their musical journey—from emerging beginners to collegiate members on the cusp of professional careers. This dynamic setting fosters mentorship: younger players learn from their older peers, while collegiate musicians have the rewarding opportunity to nurture and coach the next generation.

The BPYO is more than just an orchestra, however. It is a vibrant community dedicated to the exploration of great orchestral repertoire within an environment that is both musically dynamic and intellectually challenging. Members are encouraged not only to master their individual parts and gain deep insight into the scores, but also to engage in open dialogue with Mr. Zander through weekly “white sheets,” which invite musicians to reflect on all aspects of the music and the rehearsal process. This commitment to both musical and personal growth helps shape exceptionally skilled artists who emerge as leaders in their communities.

Since its 2012–13 debut season—which featured two sold-out performances at Boston’s Symphony Hall and a five-city tour of the Netherlands—the BPYO has consistently garnered critical acclaim. In 2013, The New York Times praised BPYO’s Carnegie Hall performance as a “brilliantly played, fervently felt account,” and in 2019, Boston Magazine named it “Best Classical Music Ensemble.” The BPYO has also embarked on numerous international tours, including:

• 2015: Performances in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Switzerland, at such venues as the Prague Rudolfinum, Berlin’s Philharmonie, and Luzern’s KKL.
• 2016: A tour of Spain.
• 2017: Concerts and outreach activities in Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina.
• 2018: Tours through Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, and the Netherlands—with performances at the Budapest National Concert Hall, Vienna’s Musikverein, and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.
• 2019: An eight-city tour across Brazil.
• 2022: A six-city tour across Greece.

• 2023: Performances and musical exchanges in five South African cities.

The BPYO’s legacy is also captured in its three critically acclaimed live recordings: Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 at Carnegie Hall in 2013, and Mahler’s Symphonies No. 6 and No. 9, at Symphony Hall in 2017 and 2018, respectively.