Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras

The mission of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO) is to encourage musical excellence in a professional and supportive environment by providing the highest-quality orchestra training and performance opportunities to qualified musicians, grades K-12. Also at the core of BYSO’s mission is making exceptional classical music experiences accessible to youth from all Boston communities.

BYSO is an independent 501(c)(3) organization that has been in residence at the Boston University College of Fine Arts since 1958. At the time of our founding, BYSO was a modest orchestra of 80 high school students, and since then our organization has grown exponentially in terms of size and scope. Today, BYSO provides an unparalleled music education experience for over 500 students annually across a robust array of programs that includes three full symphonic orchestras, two young string training orchestras, a preparatory wind ensemble, a chamber music program, and the Intensive Community Program (ICP)—our nationally recognized outreach program offering fine musical training to students of color from greater Boston.