2020-2021 Annual Report

Gail Samuel joined the BSO as its Eunice and Julian Cohen President and Chief Executive Officer in June 2021, becoming the organization’s first female president in its 140-year history. Her arrival came as the BSO returned to performances at Tanglewood after the prolonged shutdown due to COVID-19. In her welcome video to the BSO and Tanglewood community (shown here) on the eve of the resumption of concerts, she thanked donors and patrons for their support in guiding the BSO through the pandemic to a reunion in music. “Now, as we emerge into this bright new day, we aspire to imagine and build a bright future together,” she said. “I look forward to joining Andris Nelsons, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and our wonderful audiences as we reunite as a music community this weekend at Tanglewood to experience anew the power of music to revive sustain and inspire our lives.”