Belmont Teen On Stage at BSO's Opening Night

It was a special night for Najette Abouelhadi when the Boston Symphony Orchestra launched its 132nd season this past Saturday, Sept 22 at its annual Opening Night Gala at Symphony Hall.

But it wasn't that the 17-year-old Belmont resident was able to obtain a coveted ticket to opening night; Abouelhadi was one of eight young cellists from the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras performed on stage alongside eight professional cellists from the Boston Symphony Orchestra, marking the start of a new partnership between the two organizations: Partnering for the Future. 

By joining forces, the two organizations will develop new training programs and offer joint performance opportunities for young musicians, audiences, and the wider community, while exploring innovative ways to continue to foster the future of classical music.

As part of this unique collaboration, the management of the Boston Symphony, together with BYSO, will work closely with BSO musicians, guest artists and conductors, and assistant conductors to offer BYSO musicians special coaching, master classes, and other opportunities for joint music making.

The BSO and BYSO will also develop a mentor/'godparent' program involving the musicians of both organizations. This new relationship represents a significant expansion of the previous relationship between the two organizations, which included the BSO presenting BYSO, under the direction of BYSO Music Director Federico Cortese, in Symphony Hall as part of its Family Concerts series during the last three seasons.

Abouelhadi and a slew of Belmont teens will be performing at BYSO’s 55th season Opening Concert on Sunday, October 28 at 3pm at Symphony Hall.

Boston Youth Symhony, BYSO’s most advanced orchestra conducted by Music Director, Federico Cortese, will perform Beethoven’s Second Symphony and Stravinsky’s music for the ballet "Petrushka." The performance will also feature musicians from BYSO’s Repertory Orchestra and Junior Repertory Orchestra.

Belmont will be well represented at the BYSO’s 55th season opening concert with the following players:

• Najette Abouelhadi, 17, Cello

• Enchi Chang, 17, Violin 

• Benjamin Covell, 14, Violin  

• Grace Curtis, 12, Horn

• Emilia De Leo, 16, Viola

• Ammu Dinesh, 14, Bassoon

• Konrad Hedderick, 17, Viola

• Sharon Kim, 17, Violin 

• Joseph Lin, 15, Violin 

• Joshua Lin, 17, Violin 

• Rebecca MacInnes, 17, Viola

• Leah Meyer, 16, Horn

• Andrew Park, 16, Clarinet

• Calvin Perkins, 12, Trumpet