Experience BISO YOUTH's Beautiful Music

The BISO Youth is a premier orchestral training program serving talented young musicians throughout the Greater Boston area. Rehearsals are conveniently held in the Newton/Lexington area, providing families with access to high-level music education without the weekly commute into downtown Boston.

Led by acclaimed conductors, distinguished musicians and connected to the all-professional Boston International Symphony Orchestra, the program offers intensive sectional and full-orchestra training in a supportive, inspiring, and artistically rigorous environment.

Chief Conductor and Co-Founder Jorge Soto is himself a graduate of Venezuela's renowned El Sistema program, one of the world's most influential youth music education movements. Drawing on his extensive experience as both a performer and educator, Maestro Soto brings the principles of El Sistema to BISO Youth Orchestra - emphasizing musical excellence, teamwork, mentorship, leadership, and the transformative power of ensemble music-making. His passion for developing young musicians is at the heart of the program's educational mission.

One of the program's unique advantages is the opportunity for advanced students to perform side-by-side with professional musicians of the Boston International Symphony Orchestra, creating a meaningful bridge between youth and professional artistry.

Our mission is to build a program that is both aspirational and accessible - one that nurtures young musicians from their early stages of development through pre-professional excellence while providing meaningful performance opportunities along the way.

Program Highlights

• Led by internationally acclaimed conductors and distinguished teaching artists
• Opportunity for advanced students to perform with the Boston International Symphony Orchestra (BISO)
• Intensive sectional and orchestral training model
• Smaller, more personalized environment than many larger institutional programs
• Convenient suburban location in the Newton/Lexington area
• Performance opportunities throughout the year
• Connections to regional, national, and international music initiatives

Leadership and Faculty

• Chief Conductor and Co-Founder: Jorge Soto
• Artistic Director and Co-Founder: Olga Lisovska
• Founder and Director of Management: Harry Zhu
• Orchestra Advisor: Prof. James O’Dell
• Orchestra Manager: Olivia Xu
• Assistant Conductors: Dan Ryan / Juju Zhu
• Guest Conductors: To Be Announced
• Sectional Faculty:

             o Strings: Prof. Bengisu Gokce / Alan Toda-Ambaras 

             o Woodwinds: Prof. Jan Halloran / David Dziardziel

             o Brass: Prof. James O’Dell / Mark Perez 

             o Percussion: Harry Zhang

Performance Opportunities

• End-of-session Youth Orchestra Showcase Concerts
• Potential participation in selected Boston International Symphony Orchestra (BISO) performances (Advanced Division)
• Collaborative opportunities with: 

             o Boston International Music Competition (BIMC) 

             o Boston International Music Festival (BIMF) 

             o Boston Youth Talent Spectacular (BYTS) 

             o WeStar Young Artist Vocal Intensive Project (VIP) 

             o WeStar Four Season Concert Series 

             o Music Arts & Fashion Productions

Weekly Rehearsals - Every Saturday

Junior and Senior Divisions rehearse through a combination of sectional instruction and full-orchestra rehearsals, providing students with both individualized attention and comprehensive ensemble experience.