On July 18, Cary Hall in Lexington welcomed audiences for the inaugural Boston International Music Festival, presented as part of the America 250: A Celebration of Cultures initiative.

The festival brought together musicians of different ages, backgrounds, and musical traditions for an evening celebrating artistic excellence and cultural exchange. Performers ranged from young emerging artists to established professionals, reflecting the international spirit of the festival.

The program featured Gold Medalists of the Boston International Music Competition, alongside guest artists, the competition's judges and ensembles representing classical, jazz, folk, musical theatre, and world music.

The evening opened with "Armando's Rhumba," performed by the UA Band of Berklee, setting an energetic tone for the concert. Huichen Zhu, Gold Medalist of the Boston International Music Competition, presented Franz Liszt's Trois Études de Concert, S. 144 No. 3 with impressive technical command and musical sensitivity.

One of the evening's youngest performers, Tyrisa Lerttanapaiboon, Gold Medalist of the Boston International Music Competition, gave a heartfelt performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables, demonstrating remarkable poise and artistry.

BIMC's judge, a renowned soprano Olga Lisovska, performed Sarah Brightman's "Adagio", sharing its message of identity, immigration, and finding home in a new country. She concluded her appearance with the Ukrainian folk song "Gandzia," honoring her heritage and adding another cultural dimension to the program.

Internationally recognized accordionist Cory Pesaturo delighted audiences with two solo selections—Vivaldi's "Winter" and a Godfather Movie Medley—before joining Xia Jing (guzheng) and Bin Hu (guitar) for an unprecedented cross-cultural performance of Astor Piazzolla's Libertango. The collaboration highlighted the creative possibilities that emerge when artists from different musical traditions perform together.

Young vocalist Hazel P. Hersh performed "Die on This Hill" by Sienna Spiro, while Sofia Shkidchenko showcased her versatility with several genres, from Alyosha's "Free People", to "She Taught Me Yodel" and later joined the UA Band of Berklee for the jazz standard "So Easy to Fall in Love."

The UA Band of Berklee also performed "Jasmine Flower", an improvised edition of the most popular Chinese song, and concluded the instrumental portion of the evening with John Coltrane's "Giant Steps," demonstrating the ensemble's stylistic range and musicianship.

The concert concluded with all participating artists returning to the stage for a surprise and impromptu performance of "This Land Is Your Land," inviting the audience to join in a fitting finale celebrating community, friendship, and the unifying power of music.

The Boston International Music Festival followed a week of activities that included the Boston International Music Competition, educational masterclasses, and college tours for participating students and families from around the world.

The festival was made possible through the vision and leadership of Harry Zhu, whose dedication helped bring this new international event to life.

We extend our sincere gratitude to every performer, teacher, adjudicator, volunteer, sponsor, supporter, and audience member who contributed to the success of this inaugural festival. Your participation helped create an inspiring celebration of music and cultural exchange.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back for the 2027 Boston International Music Festival!