Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras Commission New Work by Composer, Violinist Mark O'Connor for 2010-11 Season

World Premiere Presented March 6, 2011

BOSTON, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO), one of the finest youth orchestras in the country, today announced programming for the 53rd season. On March 6, 2011, BYSO will present a world premiere commissioned from American Composer Mark O'Connor. "The Improvised Concerto" will feature O'Connor as soloist in a multi-style work incorporating traditional and modern techniques, including improvised solo lines.

"This is going to be, not surprisingly, another musically very intense and rich season," said BYSO Music Director Federico Cortese. "The students will have the opportunity to work closely with Mark O'Connor in preparation for the performance of his world premiere," he concluded.

The premier orchestra, Boston Youth Symphony (BYS), will open the season on October 17, 2010, at Symphony Hall, with a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1. Led by BYSO Music Director Federico Cortese, this 114-member full symphonic orchestra includes talented young musicians from all six New England states.

On January 16, 2011, BYS will present Verdi's opera Macbeth at Sanders Theatre. BYS is acclaimed as the only US youth orchestra to perform a complete semi-staged opera for four consecutive seasons.

On March 6, 2011, BYS will perform the world premiere of a new work by Mark O'Connor at Symphony Hall. In addition, the March 6 program will include excerpts from Prokofiev's Suite from Romeo and Juliet. The season will conclude June 19, 2011, with Mozart's Symphony No. 36 and Schumann's Symphony No. 4 presented at Sanders Theatre.

Tickets will be on sale September 1st.  For more information visit www.BYSOWeb.org or call (617)353-5353.

Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras

Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras is regarded as one of finest youth orchestras in the US and a national model for music and arts education. Its six orchestras and Intensive Community Program serve more than 425 students from eight- to eighteen years old from six New England states.  Appointed in 1999, Music Director Federico Cortese oversees an artistic staff of 50 in support of 14 annual orchestral performances and a semi-staged opera. Since its founding at Boston University in 1958, BYSO continues to achieve the highest artistic standards. BYSO receives generous support from Boston University's College of Fine Arts, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and National Endowment for the Arts.

SOURCE Boston University