Krysten A. Keches - Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras

Following its establishment in 1958, the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO) flourished under the leadership of music director Dr. Marvin Rabin. One hundred and thirty-five students auditioned for membership in the original single ensemble, attesting to the need for an orchestral program for high schoolage musicians in the Boston area. Throughout the next decade, the orchestra performed at major concert venues, including Bostons Symphony Hall, New England Conservatorys Jordan Hall, and Harvard Universitys Sanders Theatre. The orchestra also appeared at local schools, bringing classical music to younger audiences in the community. By 1969, the BYSO had performed at both Carnegie Hall and the White House and had undertaken its first international tour; these early accomplishments helped to ensure the growth of the organization in the years to come.

An associate professor of music at Boston University from 1958 to 1966, the BYSOs founding music director, Dr. Marvin Rabin, led the orchestra for six seasons, until 1964. Under his guidance, the orchestra thrived, gradually increasing its membership and gaining recognition within the Greater Boston community. Thanks to his dedication, the BYSO flourished in its early years.

Rabin worked to raise the caliber of the orchestra, expand its repertoire, and spread enthusiasm about classical music by strengthening the link between the BYSO and local schools. Through his efforts, he established many of the goals and traditions that remain vital to the organization today.

The final selection of members for the opening season was completed in January 1959; 135 students auditioned and 80 were accepted into the orchestra. Rehearsals were held on Saturday mornings from 9:30 until noon at what is now called the College of Fine Arts Concert Hall at Boston University, the same space where members of the Boston Youth Symphony practice today. Here members of the brass section of the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra (GBYSO) rehearse together around 1959.

GBYSOs first concert took place on May 1, 1959, at Wayland High School and served as a warm-up for the orchestras debut performance on May 10, 1959, at New England Conservatorys Jordan Hall. The program, titled Salute to UNICEF, included works by Max Bruch, Alan Hovhaness, and Richard Wagner, as well as the premiere of Concert Overture No. 1, a piece written specifically for GBYSO by the young composer Jerome Cohen.

After a successful first year, the BYSO completed auditions for its second season in October 1959; 98 students were accepted into the orchestra, an increase of 18 members. The 19591960 season marked the initiation of concerts for children; these annual performances emphasized the goal of spreading classical music to young audiences.

On January 17, 1960, GBYSO performed at Harvard Universitys Sanders Theatre in honor of the 85th birthday of Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Schweitzer. The program included works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Gabriel Faur, Aaron Copland, Alan Hovhaness, and Alexander Borodin. Violinist Daniel Kobialka (class of 1961), the concertmaster of the orchestra, performed Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Sans.

One of the highlights of the second season was the taping of an educational video for Channel 2 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on January 30, 1960. Intended as a teaching tool for elementary and junior high schoolage audiences, the program was used in New England area classrooms and for National Educational Television. The first video in a series of programs titled Accent on Music , the tape showed the orchestra in rehearsal at the Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Kresge Auditorium. The program used the contemporary manuscript Dance Mosaics by Kenneth Wright to introduce the characteristics of individual instruments, and violin soloist Daniel Kobialka (class of 1961) performed Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Saint-Sans.