The BPYO is going to Mexico!

June 2025 

The 120 members of the BPYO range in age from 12 to 21 creating a dynamic environment for artistic and personal growth, where younger members learn alongside seasoned collegiate musicians. The tuition-free model of the BPYO allows talented young artists from all backgrounds to participate regardless of financial circumstances. 

Tour Itinerary 

June 14 - León at Teatro Bicentenario 

     Mahler Symphony No. 6

June 17 - Veracruz at Foro Boca                                

     Verdi / Stravinsky / Dvořák                                 REGISTER FOR FREE TICKETS

June 19 - Xalapa at Sala Principal de Tlaqná 

               Mahler Symphony No. 6                                         
            REGISTER FOR FREE TICKETS

June 21 - Mexico City at Palacio de Bellas Artes 

     Verdi / Stravinsky / Dvořák

June 23 - Puebla at Auditorio de la Reforma

     Community Concert (Concierto Especial) 

 
     Mahler Symphony. No. 6                                             
 

Outreach Activities

BPYO musicians will engage in five musical and cultural exchanges with Mexican partners, creating important formative experiences through education and community outreach. These exchanges will provide meaningful opportunities for young musicians to learn from one another, promoting artistic growth, cross-cultural understanding, and new friendships that will last a lifetime. 
  • Conducting workshop and an open side-by-side rehearsal with 6+ youth orchestras, in partnership with Orquesta Filharmonica de León.

  • Collaboration with Universidad Veracruzana students and faculty, including masterclasses and chamber music workshops led by local faculty.

  • Open rehearsal at Bellas Artes with youth musicians and school groups 

  • Two-day immersive collaboration with Esperanza Azteca, featuring side-by-side rehearsals, breakout sessions, shared meals, and culminating in a joint concert at Auditorio de la Reforma showcasing Mexican composers.

  • Open side-by-side rehearsal, conducting workshops, and collaboration with OJUEM, concluding with a performance at Sala Nezahualcóyotl.

The BPO has also committed to providing hundreds of complimentary tickets to tour performances as part of our Crescendo Concert Access Initiative designed to support communities with limited financial resources.

We need your help!

Please consider making a contribution, or as Benjamin Zander says: "be a contribution!" Help us send this orchestra—and the message of hope they carry— across the border!  

Click here to make a gift to support the BPYO Tour of Mexico. 

GivingTuesday_BrazilOutreachSide-by-side in Brazil, photo by Paul Marotta

3(1)Side-by-side rehearsal, photo by Paul Mardy.

WHY DO WE TOUR?

 Read Maestro Benjamin Zander's South Africa Tour report here.

Emily Chen, violin"One indispensable reason why we go on tour is to share our music beyond the Boston music scene. Every person in this world deserves to be able to go to concerts or surround themselves with music, and with our international tours, we have been able to expand that opportunity for countless individuals. We may be young people, but we have been given the chance to change the world with love, music, and possibility, and that is why our international tours are so important.“  —Emily Chen, BPYO alumna

Reese Williams, French horn"After being on tour, I see the world differently, and I firmly believe it’s because now, I always keep my head up…When you look up, you notice everything, every last detail. I’ve always looked at my shoes like I was carrying some kind of burden, but now I can’t stop looking up. I feel a little lighter, a little freer, a little more human."  —Reese Williams, BPYO alumnus

Visit the BPYO Press Pages for the 2025 Season.

Tour Partners 

Orquesta Juvenil Universitaria Eduardo Mata

The Orquesta Juvenil Eduardo Mata (OJUEM) is a youth orchestra based at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), named in honor of the renowned Mexican conductor Eduardo Mata. Comprising talented young musicians from across Mexico, OJUEM serves as a platform for artistic development, orchestral training, and cultural exchange. The orchestra regularly collaborates with distinguished conductors and soloists, performing a diverse repertoire that includes classical masterworks and contemporary Mexican compositions. As part of UNAM’s commitment to music education, OJUEM plays a key role in nurturing the next generation of Mexican orchestral musicians.

Esperanza Azteca 

Esperanza Azteca is a youth orchestra and choir program in Mexico that provides musical education and social development opportunities for children and teenagers, particularly those from underserved communities. Founded in 2009, the program emphasizes discipline, teamwork, and personal growth through music, offering free or low-cost training in orchestral and choral performance. With over 50 orchestras across Mexico, Esperanza Azteca has transformed the lives of thousands of young musicians, fostering artistic excellence, cultural pride, and social inclusion through the power of music.

Orquesta Filarmónica de León

The Orquesta Filarmónica de León is a premier symphony orchestra based in León, Mexico, dedicated to artistic excellence, cultural enrichment, and community engagement. Known for its diverse repertoire and high-caliber performances, the orchestra regularly collaborates with renowned conductors, soloists, and international ensembles. Through concerts, educational programs, and outreach initiatives, the Orquesta Filarmónica de León plays a vital role in promoting classical music and fostering musical appreciation within the region.

Universidad Veracruzana and Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa

Universidad Veracruzana (UV) is one of Mexico’s leading public universities, known for its excellence in higher education, research, and cultural development. Founded in 1944, UV has multiple campuses across the state of Veracruz, offering a wide range of academic programs. The university is renowned for its strong music and arts programs, including its prestigious Faculty of Music and Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa (OSX), one of the oldest symphony orchestras in Mexico. With a commitment to innovation, social impact, and cultural preservation, Universidad Veracruzana plays a key role in Mexico’s academic and artistic landscape.

Bellas Artes

Palacio de Bellas Artes is Mexico’s premier cultural and performing arts center, located in the heart of Mexico City. Known for its stunning architecture, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring a marble façade, Art Nouveau and Art Deco interiors, and murals by Diego Rivera and other renowned artists. Since its inauguration in 1934, Bellas Artes has been home to Mexico’s most prestigious artistic institutions, including the National Symphony Orchestra, National Opera Company, and National Ballet. With its world-class acoustics and rich cultural history, it remains a symbol of Mexico’s artistic excellence and a premier venue for orchestral, operatic, and theatrical performances.

 

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