Boston University Tanglewood Institute Turns 60
This August 2026, BUTI is celebrating six decades of artistry…and everyone is invited!
BU Tanglewood Institute
Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) Turns 60
This August 2026, BUTI is celebrating six decades of artistry…and everyone is invited!
Each summer, more than 400 students arrive at Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) from across the country and around the world to study, perform, and grow in a setting that has inspired musicians for generations.
Some appear with major orchestras and opera houses, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Others become chamber musicians, members of professional vocal ensembles, composers, conductors, educators, entrepreneurs, scholars, and advocates for the arts. Each carries forward the discipline, curiosity, and creativity that define the Tanglewood tradition.
This August in Lenox, Massachusetts, Boston University Tanglewood Institute will honor six decades of artistic excellence and transformative music education with memorable celebrations of legacy, community, and music. Please join BUTI in marking this historic milestone!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Saturday, August 1 – Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Celebrating 60 Years, Supporting the Next Generation
Young Artists Orchestra Performance
Saturday, August 1 at 1:30 pm
Seiji Ozawa Hall
Begin the afternoon with a performance by the BUTI Young Artists Orchestra (YAO) at Ozawa Hall, offering an inspiring opportunity to hear the next generation of musicians in one of Tanglewood’s most beautiful venues.
Please note: Guests must present a ticket for entry. Tickets for the YAO concert can be purchased using the button below.
A complimentary ticket to the YAO Performance is included with purchase of a BUTI 60th Anniversary Benefit ticket.
60th Anniversary Benefit
Saturday, August 1 at 4:30 pm
BUTI Campus
The celebration continues with an exclusive benefit on the BUTI campus featuring a private performance by world-renowned violinist and BUTI parent Joshua Bell—an extraordinary opportunity to experience artistry of the highest caliber in an intimate setting. Guests will enjoy dinner and an inspiring musical program amid the Berkshires, in a setting designed for reflection, connection, and celebration.
Tickets: $250
A complimentary ticket to the YAO Performance is included with purchase of a BUTI 60th Anniversary Benefit ticket.
Proceeds from the evening will support student scholarships, helping ensure that talented young artists can attend BUTI regardless of financial circumstance.
Attire: Garden Party — comfortable summer elegance encouraged. As this is an outdoor/tented celebration, flat shoes and a sweater/wrap are recommended.
The evening will take place rain or shine.
Important Guest Information: Plentiful parking for our guests will be available on the BUTI campus, at 45 West Street, Lenox. For those joining us from the 1:30 PM Young Artists Orchestra performance at Ozawa Hall, please proceed in your vehicle for a short drive from the Tanglewood parking lot to 45 West Street.
Guests holding tickets to the August 1 evening performance at Tanglewood will be accommodated, with the program timed to allow a comfortable departure.
Young Artists Wind Ensemble Performance
Sunday, August 2 at 1:30 pm
Seiji Ozawa Hall
Join us for a performance by the BUTI Young Artists Wind Ensemble, one of nation’s premier summer youth programs of its kind which draws outstanding wind, brass, and percussion players from across the globe.
No ticket required to attend.
BUTI Tanglewood on Parade Program featuring BUTI Alumni Side-by-Side
Tuesday, August 4 at 4pm
Koussevitzky Music Shed
Experience the thrill of BUTI students and alumni performing together on the iconic stage. For many, this is a cherished place of first performances and unforgettable memories—a true hallmark of the BUTI journey.
This performance is part of Tanglewood on Parade. No ticket is required to attend.
Are you an alum of BUTI and interested in participating in the side-by-side performance? Learn more about the performance, repertoire, and schedule.
BUTI Alumni Mixer
Tuesday, August 4 at 5:30pm
Hawthorne Tent
Raise a glass, reconnect with fellow alumni, and celebrate the vibrant, global community that has grown from this remarkable institution. This mixer is intended to be fun and festive, inviting guests to toast our 60th, share stories and laughter, and revel in the enduring camaraderie and artistic spirit that define BUTI.
Tickets: $20
Tanglewood on Parade Evening Concert
Tuesday, August 4 at 8pm
Koussevitzky Music Shed
Conclude the celebration at the Tanglewood on Parade Evening Concert with a performance curated by Yo-Yo Ma.
This performance is part of Tanglewood on Parade. Tickets can be obtained through the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Space is limited. Register and reserve tickets today!
Please join us in celebrating BUTI’s legacy, its place within the Tanglewood tradition, and the extraordinary students shaping the future of music.
If you have any questions about the weekend, please reach out to alumni@bu.edu.
“This is a life-changing program. People who graduate from BUTI go into all kinds of fields, and they bring that perspective of BU culture and the tradition of excellence with them. The point of BUTI is to be the pebble in the pond that can make a difference in the world.”
Nicole Wendl, Executive Director, BU Tanglewood Institute
ABOUT JOSHUA BELL
With a career spanning almost four decades, Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell CBE is one of the most celebrated artists of our time. He has performed with virtually every major orchestra in the world, and regularly appears as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, conductor, and as the Music Director of London’s Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
Bell has been nominated for six Grammy awards, named “Instrumentalist of the Year” by Musical America, made an honorary CBE in Britain, selected as a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum, recognized with the Avery Fisher Prize, and honored as an “Indiana Living Legend.”
Photo by Shervin Lainez