Boston Symphony Orchestra

The Boston Symphony Orchestra is a nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1881 and headquartered at Symphony Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. Led by Music Director Andris Nelsons, the main orchestra presents classical music performances throughout the year. The BSO family also includes Boston Pops, a subsidiary ensemble offering popular music programs, and the Tanglewood Festival, the orchestra's summer festival held at Tanglewood in the Berkshires and one of the world's most celebrated music festivals.

Creative work across the organization spans several disciplines: classical music performance and artistic programming, music education and training, archival preservation and historical curation, and arts festival programming. The Tanglewood Music Center, the BSO's summer music academy in the Berkshires, and the Tanglewood Learning Institute, its associated educational programming arm, extend the organization's work into instruction and curriculum alongside the summer festival. Education and community engagement programmes reach students, families and music enthusiasts of all ages.

Institutionally, the BSO is a 501(c)(3) organization sustained by philanthropic support and donations. It has operated for over 140 years and is described as one of the most prestigious orchestras in the world, with audiences in the United States and internationally. Its stated values include musical excellence and the highest artistic aspirations, community engagement and accessibility, and the preservation of institutional history through comprehensive archives. The organization traces its origins to founder Henry Lee Higginson, a Civil War veteran and businessman.