BSO Opens its 2025-26 Season with Two Free Performances Celebrating Community and Artistry

The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) kicks off the Opening Week of its 2025-26 season with two free concerts at Symphony Hall that invite audiences to experience the breath of phenomenal artistry and commitment to community-building that define the BSO today: the annual Concert for the City (Sept. 17), and a new addition, Music’s Next Generation – A College Showcase (Sept. 18).

Concert for the City, a celebration of music-making and community spirit, begins at 4:30 p.m. with pre-concert performances throughout Symphony Hall by local music, art, and dance groups, showcasing Boston's rich cultures and musical traditions. The event culminates in a 7:30 p.m. concert with the BSO, Boston Pops, and Tanglewood Festival Chorus led by Andris Nelsons, Keith Lockhart, and Thomas Wilkins, with the Veronica Robles Mariachi Band and cuatrista and vocalist Fabiola Méndez and her ensemble as special guests. Acclaimed young pianist Clayton Stephenson, a finalist in the Van Cliburn International Competition, a Gilmore Young Artist Award winner, and a Harvard-New England Conservatory graduate, closes the concert as soloist in the first movement of George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F.  

The following evening, Music’s Next Generation – A College Showcase brings musical ensembles from Berklee College of Music, Boston University, Harvard University, New England Conservatory, Northeastern University, and Tufts University to Symphony Hall for a varied and dynamic program. From Randall Thompson’s “The Last Words of David,” performed by the Boston University Symphonic Chorus, to Toto's "Africa," performed by the Harvard University Crimson Cellos, the program showcases the varied talents of students across Boston. 

Free tickets to both Concert for the City and the College Showcase will be available starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3.   

Quote from BSO President and CEO Chad Smith

“This September, to open the BSO’s 144th season, we are excited to welcome our friends and neighbors back for our sixth Concert for the City and to introduce Music’s Next Generation – A College Showcase, a brand-new event spotlighting musical groups from the city’s higher education community. We can think of no better way to start the 2025-26 season than with two free events that center local partners and celebrate the breadth of talent and artistry across Boston’s musical community. We invite everyone to experience the power of music to build community and inspire joy and look forward to seeing you at Symphony Hall this fall.”