BYSO’s premier orchestra has built an international presence with tours and performances in world-renowned venues in Switzerland, Israel, England, Scotland, Wales, Colombia, Germany, Belgium, Canada, France, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Russia, Spain and Portugal.

1969
International Festival of Youth Orchestras in St. Moritz, Switzerland St. Mortz Festival Hall

1970
The Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra is the first foreign youth orchestra to perform at the prestigious Israel Festival of Music and Drama. First Concert – Kibbutz Ein Hashofet auditorium, Caesarea – Roman (ampi)Theatre, Jerusalem – Binyenei Ha’ooma

1972
Tours England, Scotland, and Wales. Guildford Civic Hall, Eton College Chapel, Brangwyn Hall – Swansea (Wales)

1974
The Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra travels to Colombia to perform in Bogota and Medellin (Boston’s sister city).

1979
The Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra returns to Colombia by popular demand. Basilica Metropolitana (Medellin), Rio Negro Cathedral (Rionegro), Colon Theatre (Botoga), San Ignacio Concert Hall, Columbian – American Centre, Tunja Cathedral (Tunja), Included benefits for the Special Olympics (in Botoga) and for the Childrens Hospital of Antioquia – Clinica Noel (Medellin)

1980
The Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra participates in an exchange with the Düsseldorf Youth Symphony Orchestra and tours West Germany and Belgium.  Fraumunster Chruch

1982
The Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra tours Montreal; the trip includes a joint concert with the Montreal Youth Orchestra. Pollack Concert Hall

1983
The BYSO’s Silver Anniversary celebrations include a tour of France.

1985
The Senior Orchestra’s tour of Yugoslavia, Hungary, and Austria includes a performance in Budapest for the International Congress of Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, as well as an appearance at the Dubrovnik Music Festival.  Fort Revelin (Revelin Fortress)

1988
Leonard Bernstein and Seiji Ozawa serve as honorary chairmen of the Senior Orchestra’s tour of Japan.  Tokyo – Hitomi Memorial Hall, Osaka – Horikawa High School , Kinran College, Hiroshima – Yubinchokin Hall, Sun Plaza

1992
The Senior Orchestra tours Central Europe.  After the tour, the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) presents the BYSO a special award given in recognition of the programming of American music on foreign tours.

1994
The Senior Orchestra tours Finland and Sweden.

1996
The Senior Orchestra tours Italy with a featured performance at the world renowned Ravenna Festival.  Como – Teatro Sociale, Emilia-Romana – Teatro Ariosto, Rome – Palazzo Congressi, Ravenna – Palazzo Mauro do Andre, Toscana – Teatro Romano Di Fiesole,   Nettuno – Sagrato Basillicata Nostra Signora Delle Grazie (The sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces and of Santa Maria Goretti)

1998
The BYSO celebrates its Fortieth Anniversary.  The Senior Orchestra travels to England and Ireland for a six-concert tour.

2000
The Senior Orchestra tours France.

2002
The Senior Orchestra tours the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary, and joins in the opening festivities of the Twentieth Biannual Béla Bartók Choir Competition in Debrecen.  Praha (Prague) – Dvorak Hall, Krakow – Karola Szymanowskiego, Budapest – Pesti Vigado European Competition, Debrecen

2004
The Senior Orchestra tours Estonia, Latvia, and Russia, and performs at St. Petersburg’s renowned Shostakovich Hall.

2006
The Senior Orchestra tours Spain and Portugal and takes part in the prestigious Granada Festival.  The Preparatory Wind Ensemble (PWE) is established.      Granada – Plaza de las Pasiegas as part of the Granada Festival, Barcelona – Auditori as part of the Nits d’estiu Festival, Lisbon – Centro Culturel de Belem

2008
The BYSO celebrates its Fiftieth Anniversary Season and tours to the Gewandhaus in Leipzig Germany and to the Czech Republic. Leipzig – Gewandhaus, Prague – Smetana Hall, Brno – Great Hall of the Palace of the Princes as part of Kromeriz Music festival, Litomysl Hall as part of the Smetana Music Festival, Ehingen – Lindenhalle Ehingen Musiksommer

2010
BYSO travels to England for its 20th international tour

2012
BYSO travels to Austria and Hungary for its 21st International Tour. During the Tour BYS will perform at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Stephansdom in Vienna and at the Bela Bartok National Concert Hall with the Chorus Hungaricus in Budapest.

2018
BYSO participates in a cultural exchange with youth choirs from Leipzig Germany for its 60th anniversary season. The Leipzig Gewandhaus Youth Choir and the Leipzig Opera Youth Choir traveled to Boston in April of 2016 to perform with BYSO in Symphony Hall as part of BYSO’s 60th Anniversary Season celebratory concert. BYSO’s 61st season culminated with a tour to perform at Bachfest alongside the Leipzig choirs. BYSO performed at the Leipzig Market Place, in the Great Hall of Leipzig Gewandhaus, and in Altenberg Castle in Altenberg, Germany.