Música Sin Fronteras: Donde Todo Es Posible

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra || Tour of Possibility in México

Benjamin Zander

June 13, 2025 | Jen Mabray

Teatro Del Bicentenario, Rehearsal of Stravinsky Program, June 13th 

“Houston, we are clear for takeoff!”

It might sound like something you’d hear from NASA Mission Control, but after the last 24 hours, that phrase belongs just as rightly to the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. We careened through international terminals with our group of 120 musicians–– plus instruments, a colossal mound of sheet music, Benjamin Zander, staff, and chaperones. After three delayed flights, due to weather in Houston and Dallas, we all arrived safely to our destination: Mexico! Our deepest thanks go to United and JetBlue for holding our planes bound for Aéropuerto Internacional de Guanajuato.

Getting checked in at the Holiday Inn, June 13th

León, the opening leg of the Tour of Possibility, has so far been nothing short of orchestral in itself—a well-rehearsed (albeit jet-lagged) symphony of energy and character. And yet, despite the chaos of travel, there is something transformative that begins the moment music becomes the mission. By 2:00am this morning, the final group–– Group 3 rolled in: exhausted, exhilarated, and somehow more excited than ever to be here.

This year’s tour name, Tour of Possibility comes with a motto–– or rather, a mindset:

Música Sin Fronteras: Donde Todo Es Posible

Music Without Borders: Where Everything Is Possible

It’s not just about taking music across geographic lines. It’s about breaking the boundaries within ourselves—between effort and inspiration, discipline and joy, self and other. It’s about reaching people, and letting ourselves be reached. And that is already happening here in México.

Overview of the eating area at Holiday Inn, June 13

From the moment we stepped off the plane in León, we were embraced with warmth, grace, and enthusiasm by our Mexican hosts. Customs agents watched curiously as Kyle Sodman toted the casing for his contrabassoon. Our bus driver and tour guide, Mario and Lula, asked about Mahler. Hotel staff offered not only juice, food, and open arms, but genuine curiosity about what this youth orchestra from Boston had come to say—through music.

It is easy to feel far from home in a new country. But here, in León, we felt met—with curiosity, with welcome, and with joy. This is multiculturalism not just as an academic idea, but as a lived, breathing interaction.

León is our first stop, and already the city has enchanted us. Known for its leatherwork and contemporary art, the city pulses with creativity—and with history. As our buses wound through the evening traffic and early morning streets, there was a palpable buzz: this is a place where tradition meets forward motion, where reverence and reinvention coexist.

For an orchestra led by a conductor who insists that possibility is the birthright of all who seek it, there could be no better place to begin. Benjamin Zander, with his youthful dynamism, irrepressible enthusiasm, and deeply human approach to conducting, will gather the group for our first meeting this morning. Already he has infused the musicians with purpose and expectation: “We will not be just playing notes,” he told them. “We will open hearts— our own, and those of everyone who hears us.” We begin this… today.

Rehearsal at Teatro del Bicentenario, Stravinsky Program, June 13

The Tour of Possibility is not about perfection—it’s about connection. This tour is not just a series of performances. It’s a cultural immersion. Over the next two weeks, BPYO will crisscross Mexico, performing in concert halls and cultural centers, visiting local communities, doing student exchanges, sharing meals, and—most importantly—listening.

Ben teaches: every concert is also a conversation. Between young musicians from Boston and audiences across Mexico. Between Mahler and Dvořak. Between the elegant structure of classical music and the vibrant spontaneity of the Mexican culture.

The BPYO travels with full hearts and open ears. There is a commitment here—not just to performing music, but to offering it. To leaning into vulnerability. To being changed.

We’ll keep sharing from each city, each rehearsal, and each breathtaking crescendo. Expect interviews with musicians and local hosts, behind-the-scenes snapshots, and reflections on what it means to build cultural bridges note by note, moment by moment.

Already, we’ve begun to see what’s possible when artistry and openness travel together. If last night’s red-eye shuffle into León proved anything, it’s that even the most chaotic journey can lead somewhere beautiful—especially when it’s driven by purpose.

Getting loaded up on our three buses, June 13

So, stay with us. There are cities to visit, sonatas to play, and stories waiting to be told. From León to México City and beyond, we are on a tour not just of performance, but of transformation.

And if the first 24 hours are any indication, possibility is already everywhere.

Written by: Jen Mabray