The Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (BPYO) is an internationally renowned orchestra of young musicians between the ages of 12 and 21. Praised for their emotional expressiveness and technical skill, the BPYO has been making waves in the classical music world. Their debut recording of Mahler’s “Symphony No. 6” was listed as one of the top 10 classical releases of 2017 by the Chicago Tribune.

In June 2023, the BPYO will embark on a multi-city tour of South Africa. The 120-member orchestra, under the direction of Benjamin Zander, will perform in Pretoria, Soweto, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Makhanda.

The Performances

During the tour, the BPYO will perform two monumental works from the orchestral repertoire: Strauss’s “Ein Heldenleben” and the rarely-performed masterpiece, Mahler’s “Resurrection Symphony.” The latter will be performed alongside the Gauteng Choristers, Sidwell Mhlongo, Andiswa Makana, and Bongiwe Nakani Mcetywa.

The Cape Town performances will be held on 20 and 21 June 2023 at Cape Town City Hall and the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre, respectively.

Collaborations with Local Musicians

In addition to the performances, the BPYO will collaborate with local young musicians and ensembles across South Africa, in line with the orchestra’s mission of “shaping future leaders through music.”

One such collaboration will take place on 19 June, where a grand celebration of music-making in Cape Town will feature over 200 American and South African musicians from the BPYO and various local schools.

Participating schools include Settlers High School Orchestra, Bellville High School Symphonic Wind Band, DF Malan High School Wind Band, Fairbairn College, Westerford High School Symphony Orchestra, San Souci, Rustenburg Girls High School, and Rondebosch Boys High School.

The upcoming tour of the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra showcases the remarkable talent of its young musicians and highlights the enchanting power of classical music when performed with passion, enthusiasm, and a sense of discovery. The BPYO’s excitement and vigor help to reignite the magic of classical music for audiences around the world.

Click here to view the BPYO South Africa Tour 2023 Collection.