2021-2022 Annual Report
Investing in Music
New Artistic Voices
In 2021-2022 we were thrilled to welcome exciting new talent to the BSO family. In 2021, Korean-Canadian conductor Earl Lee was appointed as the orchestra’s new assistant conductor. “Earl’s impressive background as both conductor and cellist is matched by his commitment and dedication to connecting with fellow musicians and audiences beyond the concert hall,” said Anthony Fogg, William I. Bernell Artistic Administrator and Director of Tanglewood. The BSO has a legacy of fostering new conducting talent stretching back to 1934 when the first assistant conductor was named. Alumni of the assistant conductorship have gone on to lead ensembles around the world. The orchestra added seven new members in 2021-2022, violinists Jenny Ahn, Sophie Wang, and Takumi Taguchi; clarinetists Christopher Elchico and Andrew Sandwick; cellist Will Chow; and Assistant Librarian Russel Allyn. Audiences can look forward to enjoying their contributions for years to come in Boston and the Berkshires.
New Artistic Voices
In 2021-2022 we were thrilled to welcome exciting new talent to the BSO family. In 2021, Korean-Canadian conductor Earl Lee was appointed as the orchestra’s new assistant conductor. “Earl’s impressive background as both conductor and cellist is matched by his commitment and dedication to connecting with fellow musicians and audiences beyond the concert hall,” said Anthony Fogg, William I. Bernell Artistic Administrator and Director of Tanglewood. The BSO has a legacy of fostering new conducting talent stretching back to 1934 when the first assistant conductor was named. Alumni of the assistant conductorship have gone on to lead ensembles around the world. The orchestra added seven new members in 2021-2022, violinists Jenny Ahn, Sophie Wang, and Takumi Taguchi; clarinetists Christopher Elchico and Andrew Sandwick; cellist Will Chow; and Assistant Librarian Russel Allyn. Audiences can look forward to enjoying their contributions for years to come in Boston and the Berkshires.
Exciting Commissions and Guests
With bold choices to highlight the work of more and more living composers, Andris Nelsons has helped establish the BSO as a formidable champion of contemporary music and a major attractor of stellar international talent. Renowned guest artists such as Nicole Cabell, Lise Davidson, Lucas and Arthur Jussen, Anu Komsi, Anne-Sophie Mutter, and Marlis Petersen delighted audiences in Boston and the Berkshires. At the BSO, we are committed to the harmony between artistic excellence and cultural relevance. Throughout the year, we feature conductors and artists of diverse genders and cultural backgrounds, who partner with our one-of-a-kind orchestra, to introduce us to gorgeous works that redefine cultural relevance at Symphony Hall, Tanglewood, the City of Boston, and beyond.
Inspiring Excellence in the Berkshires
We joyfully welcomed a full class of fellows to the Tanglewood Music Center (TMC) in 2022. Fellows from 20 countries and 24 US states came to the Berkshires to refine their craft and learn from leaders in the field. 2022 also marked Ellen Highstein’s final year as Tanglewood Music Center Director, reflecting on her 25 years leading the TMC, she noted “There’s nothing more thrilling and enlivening than working with young people in your field who remind you why you started this in the first place,” she said. “Now, about half the orchestra is regularly involved with the TMC in one way or another. The relationship has become really wonderful, to mutual benefit.” We are grateful for Ellen’s leadership of TMC and will continue her legacy of support for young composers, conductors, instrumentalists, and vocalists.
Inspiring Excellence in the Berkshires
We joyfully welcomed a full class of fellows to the Tanglewood Music Center (TMC) in 2022. Fellows from 20 countries and 24 US states came to the Berkshires to refine their craft and learn from leaders in the field. 2022 also marked Ellen Highstein’s final year as Tanglewood Music Center Director, reflecting on her 25 years leading the TMC, she noted “There’s nothing more thrilling and enlivening than working with young people in your field who remind you why you started this in the first place,” she said. “Now, about half the orchestra is regularly involved with the TMC in one way or another. The relationship has become really wonderful, to mutual benefit.” We are grateful for Ellen’s leadership of TMC and will continue her legacy of support for young composers, conductors, instrumentalists, and vocalists.
Celebrating Young Talent
Celebrating promising new talent is a long tradition at the BSO. Each year Massachusetts high school age students are invited to compete in the Fidelity Investments Young Artists Competition for a chance to perform at a Spring Pops concert at Symphony Hall. In 2022, four exceptional young performers enjoyed this opportunity of a lifetime: Andrew Kim (cello), Fei Yang-Sandy (violin), Leah Steinman (vocalist), and Adalia Wen (guzheng).
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New Pathways
2021-2022 saw the beginning of an exciting new initiative, the Susan W. and Stephen D. Paine BSO Resident Fellowship Program. The BSO believes that resources should never be the reason that a talented musician does not realize their artistic potential. The BSO created this fellowship so that up-and-coming musicians from historically underrepresented backgrounds have a successful on-ramp to becoming a part of a world-class American orchestra.
New Pathways
2021-2022 saw the beginning of an exciting new initiative, the Susan W. and Stephen D. Paine BSO Resident Fellowship Program. The BSO believes that resources should never be the reason that a talented musician does not realize their artistic potential. The BSO created this fellowship so that up-and-coming musicians from historically underrepresented backgrounds have a successful on-ramp to becoming a part of a world-class American orchestra.
