Press Release

  Boston New Year Grand Musical Ball Brings the Magic of Vienna to Cary Hall on January 24, 2026

Boston, MA — An extraordinary cultural celebration is coming to Lexington this winter. On Saturday, January 24, 2026, the Boston New Year Grand Musical Ball will transform the historic Cary Hall into a glittering world of music, dance, and international artistry — blending the elegance of Vienna, the spirit of Boston, and the rich sounds of the global community.

Presented by WeStar Music in collaboration with the Boston International Symphony Orchestra (BISO), this concert owes much of its realization to producer and director Harry Zhu, one of the key creators of the project, whose unwavering dedication to high artistic standards is well known and deeply appreciated by Boston audiences. The organizers invite guests to welcome the New Year — the Year of the Golden Horse, a symbol of strength, grace, and forward momentum — with the soaring beauty of the Viennese waltz!

The evening will be led by acclaimed conductor Maestro Jorge Soto (Boston Pops, Boston Symphony Chamber Players, U.N. Orchestra at Carnegie Hall), performing symphonic, vocal and dance repertoire.  

The Ball marks the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss, the beloved “King of Waltz,” and features some of his most celebrated works including Voices of Spring, Tales from the Vienna Woods, and the Radetzky March. Additional selections include Saint-Saëns’ The Swan, Rodríguez’s tango La Cumparsita, Arditi's "Il Bacio," and more.

The program also introduces several major premieres:

USA Premiere

Overture to Symphony No. 1 – Guan Xia

Adapted from the film Years of Burning Passion (《激情燃烧的岁月》), this brilliant orchestral work by one of China’s leading contemporary composers promises a vivid and stirring musical experience.

Boston & New England Premiere

Waltz “Rozluka / Farewell” – Mykola Lysenko
This rarely performed and deeply emotional waltz has recently captivated audiences at the legendary Wiener Opernball. Every motif breathes nostalgia for one’s homeland; every harmony carries the ache of parting—transforming sorrow into an elegant, light classical gem that reveals the beauty of the Ukrainian soul.

World Premiere

Sail Day – Tiffany Zhao
Winner of the Boston International Composition Competition, young composer Tiffany Zhao presents an exciting new work performed for the first time before a live audience.

Vocal performances will highlight the lyrical talents of sopranos Olga Lisovska and Yan Lian, beloved by Boston audiences, as well as guest soprano Meijiao Yan of China, performing the virtuosic “Mayila Variations” (Xinjiang folksong arranged by Tingjiang Hu).

A special surprise of the evening will be the performance by young vocal laureates of the Boston International Music Competition (ages 13–20). Their appearance features the only pop selection of the event — the iconic Skyfall by Adele. Among them is Sofia Shkidchenko, known for her appearances on Ukraine’s Got Talent and Spain’s Got Talent, joined by fellow BIMC winners.

In true Viennese tradition, the Harvard Ballroom Dance Team will perform classic waltz repertoire — and guests will be invited to join the dance floor as Strauss’s beloved melodies fill the hall. 

“This is not just a concert,” say the organizers, Harry Zhu and Olga Lisovska. “It is a musical journey across continents — a celebration of Boston as a city that embraces and unites the cultures of the world.”
 

The Boston New Year Grand Musical Ball reflects the mission of WeStar Music and BISO, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit: “to share the richness of world cultures through music, to support both young and established artists, to promote contemporary composers, and to uphold the highest standards of musical excellence.”

Event Information

Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
Concert & Ball: 6:30 PM

Reception & Social Hour: 5:00 PM
Location: Cary Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA

Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/MusicalBall
Information: www.BISOrchestra.org
Phone: (857) 919-4832 or (978) 933-1088

Dress Code

This evening is designed for elegance. Guests are encouraged to wear tiaras, jewelry, evening gowns, suits, tuxedos, cultural attire, and festive formal wear.

A touch of Vienna.
A spirit of Boston.
A night full of wonder.