Dear BMOPer,

As a young composer working in the highly competitive world of contemporary orchestral music, I can say without hesitation that no organization has influenced my artistic path as much as the Boston Modern Orchestra Project.

When I collaborated with Gil Rose and BMOP/sound on The Last Hive Mind, an album featuring four of my orchestral works, I saw firsthand the extraordinary care, precision, and imagination they bring to new music. The recording sessions were transformative. Gil’s ability to enter a composer’s sound world — instantly, intuitively, and with deep musical intelligence — is rare and invaluable. The orchestra’s responsiveness, technical mastery, and artistic commitment gave my music a life and clarity I had only envisioned on the page.

BMOP’s recording of my works was more than just documentation; it became a catalyst. Released in 2025, the album broadened the reach of my music both nationally and internationally, introducing my work to presenters, performers, students, and audiences who might never have encountered it otherwise. The SFCV review, describing my "theatrical voice" and BMOP’s electrifying performance, was one of the most affirming moments of my career.

"The orchestra's responsiveness, technical mastery, and artistic commitment gave my music a life and clarity I had only envisioned on the page." Shuying Li

But what BMOP does is much greater than any individual composer. It is creating a living, breathing archive of American orchestral music that future generations will rely on to understand who we were, what we valued, and how our musical language developed. More than 175 concerts and over 125 commercial recordings now make up this remarkable body of work — an achievement unmatched in the United States.

None of this is inevitable. BMOP exists because Gil, the musicians, and an amazing administrative team wake up every day dedicated to championing the voices of today. And none of it would be possible without supporters like you — who believe that new music matters — that the orchestra can remain a place of discovery, imagination, and daring artistic risk.

Your generosity supports this ecosystem. It guarantees that composers, whether emerging, mid-career, or established, have a space where their work is taken seriously, performed at the highest level, and preserved for future generations. As someone whose career has been deeply influenced by BMOP’s commitment to living composers, I invite you to join me in supporting this essential institution. Your donation enables BMOP to keep commissioning, performing, and recording the orchestral music of our time — and to continue uncovering the voices that will shape the future of American music.

With gratitude,

Shuying Li