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Batalha Monastery
Casa da Musica Porto
Wheels Up! BALTIMORE SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA HEADS TO PORTUGAL FOR MUSIC FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES
THIS SUMMER, 81 members of the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras( BSYO), along with Principal Conductor Chris Cicconi, embark on a nine-day trip to the Lisbon Music Festival and the Cistermúsica Festival in Portugal. The orchestra will perform at several locations across the country, including historic ruins and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“ The BSYO is thrilled to be touring the country of Portugal,” Cicconi said.“ Comprised of wonderful musicians from three of the orchestras from our BSYO family, we will have the opportunity to perform in some of the world’ s most prestigious venues. Our concert theme—“ The Places You’ ll Go”— includes music from countries around the world, including France, England, the United States, and more.”
The BSYO first brings their program to the Ruínas do Carmo on July 2. Considered one of the greatest and most beautiful medieval buildings in Lisbon, a 1755 earthquake caused the roof of this convent to collapse, leaving in its wake stone arches stretching toward the open sky. Beneath the ruins, the students will perform a robust program, including the first movement of Vaughan Williams’ Folk Song Suite, Franz Liszt ' s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, and a world premiere,“ Passport to
Escapades,” by BSO Composer in Residence James Lee III.
The students then travel north to Alcobaça, Portugal to perform in the Cistermúsica Festival on July 4. Presented annually for more than three decades, the festival highlights some of the best musicians in Portugal and beyond.
The ensemble continues north on July 5 to perform at the Batalha Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built between the years of 1385 and 1433. Their tour concludes on July 7 at the Casa da Música, a modern concert hall in Porto, Portugal.
“ I’ ve never been to Europe before and I can’ t wait to finally go this summer," Camden Sawn, a flutist in the Philharmonia
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Orchestra said. " The repertoire is amazing, and I’ m very excited to play all the music, especially the flute solos.”
Outside of their packed performance schedule, the students will have the opportunity to explore historic and cultural sites. The two festivals present the perfect opportunity for these talented students to showcase their musical talents on the international stage for audiences from all around the world.
“ I am thrilled to be a part of the BSYO’ s 2025 Portugal tour," Azra Syed, a cellist in the Concert Orchestra said. " I am of Portuguese heritage, with a significant amount of my family still living in Portugal, and I am so excited for my family to have a chance to see the BSYO. Obrigada BSYO!"
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