Boston Modern Orchestra Project

{{Short description|American orchestra based in Boston}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Promotional|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox orchestra

| name = Boston Modern Orchestra Project

| short_name = BMOP

| image =

| caption =

| founded = 1996

| location = Boston, Massachusetts, US

| principal_conductor = Gil Rose

| website = {{URL|http://www.bmop.org}}

}}

The Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) is a professional orchestra founded in 1996 by artistic director Gil Rose in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

{{Heading|Background}}

In its first twelve seasons, the BMOP was able to perform over 80 concerts of contemporary orchestral music, commission more than 20 works, present over 70 world premieres, release 20 CDs, produce the inaugural Ditson Festival of Contemporary Music with the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, and collaborated to produce performances of contemporary operas (including the Opera Unlimited festival of contemporary chamber opera), releasing nearly 50 CDs in total. The BMOP performs regularly at Boston's Jordan Hall, also performing in major venues on both the East and West Coasts of the United States, including Tanglewood, the Festival of New American Music in Sacramento, California; and the "Music on the Edge" festival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

{{Heading|Achievements}}

The orchestra has won the ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming of Orchestral Music and became the recipient of the John S. Edwards Award for Strongest Commitment to New American Music.{{cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/press/2009/0611_orchestra_awards|title=ASCAP Announces Year 2009 Orchestra Awards for "Adventurous Programming" at League of American Orchestras Conference in Chicago|publisher=ASCAP|access-date=29 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/press/2010/0618_orchestra-awards|title=ASCAP Announces Year 2010 Orchestra Awards For "Adventurous Programming" at League of American Orchestras Conference in Atlanta|website=ASCAP|access-date=29 December 2018}} In 2015 it was named Musical America's 2016 Ensemble of the Year, the first ever symphony orchestra to receive the award.{{cite news |last=Elliott |first=Susan |url=http://www.musicalamerica.com/news/newsstory.cfm?storyid=34958&categoryid=2&archived=0 |title=Musical America announces 2016 Artists of the Year |work=Musical America Worldwide |date=2015-10-14 |access-date=2015-10-15}}

In 2008, the BMOP launched its record label, BMOP/sound, with John Harbison's ballet Ulysses. Its five inaugural releases appeared on the "Best of 2008" lists of The New York Times, The Boston Globe, National Public Radio, Time Out New York, DownBeat magazine, and American Record Guide.{{cite news|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/ref/arts/2008holidayclassical.html|title=2008 Holiday Gift Guid – Best Classical CDs (Gandolfi: Y2K Compliant)|first=Allan|last=Kozinn|author-link=Allan Kozinn|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=29 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork|title=Time Out New York|website=Time Out|access-date=29 December 2018}}{{failed verification|date=July 2023}} BMOP/sound has received two Grammy Award nominations: in 2009 for its recording of Charles Fussell's Wilde symphony for baritone and orchestra (Sanford Sylvan Best Classical Vocal Performance), and in 2010 for its recording of Derek Bermel's Voices for solo clarinet and orchestra (Best Instrumental Soloist Performance with Orchestra). The New York Times proclaimed, "BMOP/sound is an example of everything done right."[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/arts/music/21stev.html "Independent Labels Embrace a D.I.Y. Ethos"] by Steve Smith, The New York Times, 19 December 2008

The BMOP has hosted a composer-in-residence each season since 2000. Meet the Composer and the League of American Orchestras awarded the BMOP one of six three-year Music Alive grants for a collaboration with composer Lisa Bielawa.[http://www.berkshirefinearts.com/index.php?page=article&article_id=1082&catID=8 "Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) Enlivens Audiences and Completes 12th Season with Five World Premieres"] by Erica H. Adams, BerkshireFineArts.com, 25 May 2009

The New York Times wrote about the BMOP in 2000: "Mr. Rose and his team filled the music with rich, decisive ensemble colors and magnificent solos. These musicians were rapturous – superb instrumentalists at work and play."[https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/30/arts/music-review-poetry-in-songs-reflecting-sun-and-moon.html "Poetry in Songs Reflecting Sun and Moon"] by Paul Griffiths, The New York Times, 30 March 2000 Composer John Harbison has said that "No other city has anything resembling the BMOP – with that level of activity, with that sustained productivity ... There's really been no new-music organization with a wider range of inclusion."{{cite news |last=Weininger |first=David |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2015/10/15/gil-rose-bmop-celebrate-years-audacity-excellence/lq3j6VLAfNOjaWLkTnBBhJ/story.html |title=Gil Rose, BMOP celebrate 20 years of audacity, excellence |newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=2015-10-15 |access-date=2015-10-15 }}