press release
The Boston Philharmonic announces its 48th and final season for 2026-2027.
For Immediate Release
April 7, 2026 – Sean Lewis, the managing director for the organization, announced that both the BPO and the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra will cease operations next June, after almost 50 years of performances, education, and community engagement.
“For nearly 50 years, the Boston Philharmonic has educated and delighted audiences. Audiences can expect nothing less during our final season,” Lewis stated.
Following the 2026-2027 season, the organization will be transitioning into a project known as the Zander Center, a hub for Benjamin Zander’s continued artistic and educational projects. The venue will also house Boston Philharmonic’s digital media holdings, expanding access to Zander’s work.
The organization was founded in 1979 by Benjamin Zander, an English conductor and musician. Since 1979, the organization has played hundreds of concerts in five continents, cementing the orchestra as a cornerstone of American musical culture. Today, it is most well known for its longevity and emphasis on music education among Boston’s youth.
The BPYO was founded in 2012 as a tuition-free ensemble of elite high school and college-aged musicians. The orchestra tours both nationally and internationally, and stands as one of the most highly regarded youth orchestras in the world.
The BPO currently includes 120 professional freelance musicians, music students at local colleges, and avocational musicians. The ensemble will perform Mahler’s Symphony no. 9 at its final concert, which was notably on the program at the orchestra’s first performance in 1979.
For more information about the Zander Center and the BPO’s final season, visit www.bostonphil.org.
Contact:
236 Huntington Avenue, Suite 209
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: (617) 236-0999
Email: slewis@bostonphil.org
The Boston Philharmonic announces its 48th and final season for 2026-2027.
For Immediate Release
April 7, 2026 – Sean Lewis, the managing director for the organization, announced that both the BPO and the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra will cease operations next June, after almost 50 years of performances, education, and community engagement.
“For nearly 50 years, the Boston Philharmonic has educated and delighted audiences. Audiences can expect nothing less during our final season,” Lewis stated.
Following the 2026-2027 season, the organization will be transitioning into a project known as the Zander Center, a hub for Benjamin Zander’s continued artistic and educational projects. The venue will also house Boston Philharmonic’s digital media holdings, expanding access to Zander’s work.
The organization was founded in 1979 by Benjamin Zander, an English conductor and musician. Since 1979, the organization has played hundreds of concerts in five continents, cementing the orchestra as a cornerstone of American musical culture. Today, it is most well known for its longevity and emphasis on music education among Boston’s youth.
The BPYO was founded in 2012 as a tuition-free ensemble of elite high school and college-aged musicians. The orchestra tours both nationally and internationally, and stands as one of the most highly regarded youth orchestras in the world.
The BPO currently includes 120 professional freelance musicians, music students at local colleges, and avocational musicians. The ensemble will perform Mahler’s Symphony no. 9 at its final concert, which was notably on the program at the orchestra’s first performance in 1979.
For more information about the Zander Center and the BPO’s final season, visit www.bostonphil.org.
Contact:
236 Huntington Avenue, Suite 209
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: (617) 236-0999
Email: slewis@bostonphil.org