Our Mission
The Boston Festival Orchestra is a nonprofit with a focus on the accessibility and impact of classical music, and uses the universal language of music as a catalyst for connection, empathy, and progress. Through performances, cultural events, and educational initiatives, the BFO celebrates diversity, cultural understanding, and creativity in order to enrich the lives of everyone in our community. BFO’s slogan, “Music Is the Answer,” reminds everyone that music plays an essential role in the health and vitality of society, and asks essential questions about who music is for, how it is made, and why it matters.
Boston Festival Orchestra, Season Two
Jordan Hall | New England Conservatory
July 17, 2022
Our Story
On a breezy Autumn day in 2019, Nicholas Brown and Alyssa Wang met in a local coffee shop to talk about a shared dream: to leave a positive legacy in classical music by serving their community in an impactful way. With their combined experience as local performers, they were able to identify areas of need, such as more summertime employment opportunities for local professional musicians, more approachable music experiences for classical music newcomers, and more robust music education programs. It was from this starting point that the Boston Festival Orchestra was born.
In February 2020, BFO was publicly announced with the aim of having its first season in July 2020. Sadly, due to the incoming Covid-19 pandemic, the first season was postponed. In lieu of live performances came the first iteration of the BFO Chamber Series, featuring five free virtual concerts from January - May, 2021, drawing audiences from all around the country. The Chamber Series' unique talk-show format included in-concert interviews with musicians and live chat Q&A with streamers, providing audiences with their first example of the highly interactive nature of BFO concerts.
In July 2021, at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, the BFO performed three sold-out shows, officially marking BFO's inaugural season and the first time an orchestra had performed for a live audience in Boston in over a year. Now, in its fourth season, the BFO comprises a roster of over 50 local musicians, is a proud affiliate of the Boston Musicians' Association, and has a growing Board of Directors and Advisors. It presents a multi-part live Chamber Series, 3 Summer Stage performances with full orchestra in Jordan Hall, and an opera collaboration with the North End Music & Performance Arts Center. BFO also expanded its community engagement initiatives, including collaboration with many local nonprofits, such as Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Horizons for Homeless Children, to bring music education programs to Boston's most vulnerable populations.
The Boston Festival Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that strives to serve the Greater Boston community through accessible programming, outreach and education, and collaboration.
Our Commitment
The Boston Festival Orchestra is committed to fostering a culture that celebrates diversity, promotes equity, and embraces inclusion in all aspects of our organization. We believe that a diverse and inclusive community enriches our artistic endeavors, strengthens our connections with our audiences, and empowers our collective creativity. We welcome musicians, staff, volunteers, and audiences from all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability, socioeconomic status, or cultural heritage. The BFO recognizes the unique perspectives and experiences that each individual brings, and actively seeks to amplify voices that have historically been marginalized or underrepresented in classical music through programming, community events, and accessibility initiatives.
To demonstrate its commitment to representation, BFO programs 50% of its full season with works by women or People of Color. It is important that fair and equitable opportunities exist for all members of our orchestra as we demonstrate a commitment to dismantle systemic barriers and address inequities within our organization and the broader classical music community. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to fully participate and contribute. Furthermore, we actively seek out diverse perspectives, actively listen to and learn from one another, and cultivate a sense of belonging where everyone can thrive and flourish.
BFO’s leadership and staff recognize that achieving our DEI goals requires ongoing effort, reflection, and collaboration; therefore, we are committed to continuously learning, evolving, and taking action to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within our orchestra and beyond. Together, we can create a more vibrant, equitable, and inclusive future for classical music and our community.
Our Brand
Our logo is a visual and verbal articulation of our mission, and while we build our organization from the ground up, our identity serves as a tangible reminder of our dedication to classical music and to the Greater Boston community who appreciates it. Our logo is the key identifier of our visual identity and the primary element of our visual system. The logo is composed of two elements: A symbol inspired by the movements of a conductor as well as the movements which connect to form a piece of music. This symbol is captured in a gradient which recalls the warm colors of summer and connects to the visual system.
The Boston Festival Orchestra’s identity was created by a team of global branding, marketing, and advertising specialists from Siegel+Gale and BBDO Worldwide.