Mayor Wu cutting the ribbon to the BYSO Youth Center for Music. Photo by Michael J. Lutch.

Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras recently celebrated one of our largest milestones in our over 65-year history. On March 26, 2024, BYSO hosted a ribbon cutting of our first very own home for our young musicians, the BYSO Youth Center for Music. The Youth Center for Music (YCM), a newly renovated building located in the heart of Boston, has the goal to bring together all BYSO musicians in fostering musical excellence and personal growth.

The ribbon cutting event was filled with the excitement of BYSO students, staff members, and the many supporters that attended the event. Catherine Weiskel, the President and CEO of BYSO, spoke at the celebration, addressing an audience filled with individuals all connected by a deep love of music and understanding of its importance for young people. 

“The seeds for this day were planted by generations of incredibly talented students, teachers and staff who have always been at the center of the work we do at BYSO,” said Weiskel. “Now we have a home that’s truly worthy of them all. This building creates a presence for BYSO in the heart of our city’s arts community, allowing future generations of students from all backgrounds to pursue artistic excellence among our city’s most prestigious and iconic musical institutions.”

Not only will the BYSO YCM help expand the growth of the many BYSO programs, but also to expand both the reach and impact of BYSO into all of Boston and beyond. With its location just across from the Boston Symphony Orchestra and adjacent to the reflecting pool on the Christian Science Plaza, the YCM building stands as a grand representation of the importance of music for young people.

The ribbon cutting was filled with performances by BYSO student musicians as well as a handful of impressive speakers, many who related to the young musicians themselves.

“As someone who spent many years playing violin in school orchestras, I cherish the growth and development that young people experience from arts education,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “This new, stunning home for the BYSO will foster musicianship, leadership, and relationships that will last a lifetime for our students—right across the street from one of the world’s best orchestras. Congratulations to the BYSO and all the community members who helped make this possible.”

BYSO has been committed to sharing the importance of arts education throughout our existence and we are so excited to continue this goal with our expansion into the Youth Center for Music. The entire BYSO community was thrilled to hear from individuals, such as Mayor Wu, about their stance in agreement that arts education is truly invaluable.

BYSO has been committed to sharing the importance of arts education throughout our existence and we are so excited to continue this goal with our expansion into the Youth Center for Music. The entire BYSO community was thrilled to hear from individuals, such as Mayor Wu, about their stance in agreement that arts education is truly invaluable.

“The wonderful thing about arts education is that it teaches so many lessons hyper critical to each student in whatever they choose to do,” said Keith Lockhart, Conductor of Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Boston Pops. “Being in an organization like BYSO brings out the best in people. It teaches young people self-discipline, to take a talent and then turn it into a skill. It teaches them how to be a part of something that is so much bigger than any of us individually can be.”

Mayor Wu officially cut the ribbon welcoming our new home into the city. Wu spent the evening talking with BYSO musicians, staff, and supporters while receiving a tour of the building guided by the BYSO Youth Center for Music Ambassadors. 

The Youth Center for Music Ambassadors, a set of excellent BYSO students, have been hard at work learning about YCM in order to welcome the community to the building. Caleb Graupera, a cello player in our Boston Youth Symphony, was honored to speak with the mayor and share his excitement about the building. 

“I think that BYSO is so special…and we certainly do things that many other orchestras never have the opportunity to do, such as our Intensive Community Program and Opera Programs. This home is just the next step in this journey,” said Graupera about the Youth Center for Music. “To be able to come into the middle of Boston and bring together all of the young voices of tomorrow is a privilege, and I am excited to be a part of the future of BYSO that continues to do so.”

Echoing Caleb, BYSO Music Director Federico Cortese spent the ribbon cutting sharing his pride in BYSO. “The growth of our organization made this both a necessity and possibility.This milestone is the beginning of a new phase for Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras. The success of the last five years is just a mirror of the next 35 years…this is the first step, not the final course.”

The new BYSO Youth Center for Music will be welcoming the entire community on its opening day, May 11th 2024. We invite you to join us in celebrating our new home alongside our BYSO community. We hope to see you there!