The Boston New Year Grand Musical Ball, presented by WeStar Music in collaboration with the Boston International Symphony Orchestra on January 24, 2026, was an evening that blurred the boundary between stage and audience.

From the MC's opening remarks, the tone was set for a celebration of artistry in many forms. The program traveled across cultures and styles, beginning with the Overture to Symphony No. 1 by Guan Xia, whose virtuosic and refined playing anchored several works throughout the evening. The composer's daughter, who traveled especially to hear the performance, was moved to tears upon hearing her father’s work being played for the first time in the U.S.

At the center of the evening stood Maestro Jorge Soto, whose conducting shaped the entire program with authority, sensitivity, and unmistakable charisma. His interpretations were both precise and deeply expressive — attentive to nuance, yet expansive in emotional scope. Under his direction, the orchestra responded organically, moving seamlessly from lyrical melodies to exuberant brilliance.

Vocal and instrumental colors unfolded: Yan Lian’s radiant soprano in Spring Ballet soared to the highest register with ease; the poetic romanticism of Saint-Saëns’ “Le Cygne” blended cello, piano, and ballet. Dancer Jenna Migliorelli floated gracefully across the floor, while Alan Toda-Ambaras' soulful cello melody enchanted the audience. Pianist Haiqi Zhang's sensitive playing completed the tableau. “Sail Day” by the young composer Tiffany Zhao, winner of the Boston International Composition Competition, was presented by the BISO Strings Ensemble. One audience member reflected, “The orchestra sounded great in everything. ‘Valse Rozluka,’ ‘Sail Day,’ and ‘Skyfall’ were my personal favorites.”

Variety became one of the evening’s defining triumphs. As Jagan Nath Khalsa observed, “The notable thing about the event was the huge variety of different talents, all wonderful to listen to and watch...”

Virtuosity sparkled in Liszt’s “La Leggierezza,” performed by Gold Award-winning pianist Tiffany Shen, in age group of 10 to 14 years old of Boston International Music Competition. The audience was impressed with maturity of interpretation from someone so young.

“La Cumparsita” brought tango energy to the stage with the Harvard Ballroom Dance Team. The polished moves and beautiful costumes made the audience smile. Olga Lisovska’s lively and athletic Italian Street Song had the audience clapping in rhythm and continued the evening's energetic upward climb.

Basking the audience in elegance and emotional depth, Mykola Lysenko’s Waltz “Farewell,” a Boston and New England premiere, as well as the beloved “Butterfly Lovers” featuring expressive violin soloist Kaicheng Huang, gave the audience a chance to catch their breath and soak in sheer beauty of the sound. The orchestral presentation of the Ukrainian Waltz “Farewell” and other international selections reinforced the orchestra’s mission of cultural dialogue and unity.

“Mayila Variations,” was sung with heartfelt expression by Meijiao Yan, and the orchestral performance of the popular symphony “My Motherland” by Chi Liu provided a moment of collective reflection, resonating strongly with themes of identity and belonging.

Operatic brilliance returned in Musetta’s aria from La Bohème, presented by three sopranos - Erin Merceruio Nelson, Yan Lian and Olga Lisovska. Their playful characterization and beautiful timbres blended to create a whimsical and fun performance.

In a surprising turn of events, the contemporary energy electrified the hall in “Skyfall,” presented by a quartet of the Boston International Music Competition winners from various age of 13 to 20 years old. Sofia Shkidchenko (Ukraine's Got Talent and Spain's Got Talent), Beatrice Cole, Abby Bernard and Danique Polkovnikov delivered a heartfelt and well-choreographed version of this iconic song, made even more epic by the sounds of the full symphony orchestra.

Audience members repeatedly emphasized both artistic excellence and atmosphere. Dennis shared, “Saturday’s Musical Ball was fantastic… people enjoyed it immensely. The event staff of WeStar Music were fabulous, too, making for a truly memorable evening. The event was of a very high level, with the finest variety of musical arts represented. For admirers Giovanni and Maria Luisa, the experience was equally powerful: “The show was absolutely superb from any angle we look at it! The variety was amazing — absolutely exquisite! We enjoyed every moment; time went by without realizing it… Thank you for all the beauty you bring to us.”

The final portion of the evening transformed the concert into a true Ball, as innovatively designed by the event producer and director Harry Zhu. During Strauss’s waltzes, dancers from the Harvard Ballroom Dance Team glided across the floor, and guests joined in for the Emperor Waltz, embracing the music not as spectators but as participants. An audience member was filled with happiness: "What fun it was to dance with performers, friends old and new for the finale.”

The “Voices of Spring Waltz,” conducted by guest conductor Evan Bennett, brought a special color to the evening's musical palette. Bennett led with clarity and refined musical sensitivity, allowing the waltz to breathe and shimmer with lightness and charm. The jubilant Radetzky March crowned the evening, as the entire hall rose to its feet, clapping in joyful unity under the humorous and magnetic direction of Maestro Jorge Soto.

Elegant and vibrant, the Boston New Year Grand Musical Ball proved that when music, dance, and artistry come together, a rare thing happens: a performance becomes a shared celebration — and the audience becomes part of the music itself.