The Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra commissioned an 8-minute piece by composer Clarice Assad, Bonecos de Olinda, for their 2019 tour to Brazil. The world premiere performance was given at Sanders Theatre that spring.

In an unusual move, Maestro Zander insisted that Ms. Assad join him and the orchestra on stage for the performance, to help convey to the orchestra the distinctive character of the piece. As the Boston Musical Intelligencer noted in their review of the concert, “Only someone familiar with the Brazilian-American composer (pianist, arranger, singer) Clarice Assad could have imagined that Benjamin Zander would be co-conducting on the Sanders Theatre stage yesterday with a jazz-dancing, scatting Doppelgänger." We invite you to listen and dance along from home!

We are also delighted to share with you this beautiful 10-minute performance from 2017 of the first two movements of the Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto, featuring soloist Frank John, who was at the time an undergraduate member of the BPYO. While tuba concertos are something of a niche genre, this performance may inspire you to explore further!

We send our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones this weekend. 

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