Tufts students tend to stay in their bubble, choosing to remain within the borders of their own campus rather than explore the Greater Boston area. The Boston Symphony Orchestra is where your next live track adventure can come to life, and it is only about a 40-minute trip from Tufts to Symphony Hall. Many of us are not very familiar with the classical track scene because it is not typically presented as an activity worth attending, but I would advise you to give it a chance. Most of us already enjoy classical track; the lovely violin sounds heard in movies and during holidays such as Christmas come from composers like John Williams and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, whose track is performed by orchestras like the BSO. Even though going to the symphony may feel intimidating at first, it is genuinely fun to hear beautiful track that spans centuries.
Considering the financial pressures often faced by students, the Boston Symphony Orchestra accommodates our needs by offering a student pass that provides discounted tickets for the entire orchestra season, which covers the main calendar year of performances. The student pass only costs $35 and is available to any college student. After purchasing the card, students are able to grab tickets to concerts for as little as $5. Though not all concerts are available to student passholders, this is an incredible opportunity particularly because of how renowned the orchestra is and how generous the discount is for students.
So what is played at the orchestra? The answer is everything. Even though it’s a classical symphony orchestra with classical track as its main repertoire, the BSO performs a variety of genres such as pop, jazz and holiday track through its other ensembles and at other venues, such as the Boston Pops and BSO at Tanglewood.
Among the wide variety of exciting works being performed this season, the BSO will perform many from the Romantic era, which includes many of the most popular pieces in the classical genre. Spotlighted composers such as Antonín Dvořák, Johannes Brahms and Tchaikovsky will give you a broader perspective on how a symphony can tell a story through sound. A symphony typically contains instruments from the string, brass, wind and percussion families and is guided by a conductor. Attending the orchestra this season and experiencing the classical works being played has the potential to greatly expand the range of track that students regularly consume.
Adhering to a black tie dress code is not required to attend the BSO. Some attendees choose to dress up, but you will see a wide range of clothing from casual wear to business attire. The atmosphere is welcoming, and you will feel comfortable within the space. Symphony Hall also has beautiful architecture that makes you feel as if you are walking through a museum and experiencing a piece of history.
How to use the student pass
Acquiring the student pass is simple, although using it can sometimes be tricky. Once you purchase the student pass for the 2025-26 season, you can browse the concert series that interest you. To use the student pass, you need to be available on Mondays at 10 a.m. on the BSO website to enter the virtual line and secure discounted tickets for that week’s concerts. It is important to enter the site on time because many students enter the line at once and tickets may run out.
The Boston Symphony Orchestra ticket queue displays a wait time for the Dvořák performance. (Screenshot by Makens Joseph)
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is one of the oldest major orchestras in the United States and is considered one of the most renowned. It is often mentioned in the same conversations as the New York Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The BSO is currently in its 144th season and was founded in 1881, with its first performance conducted by Georg Henschel. Symphony Hall, the orchestra’s main performance space, is also conveniently a stop on the MBTA.
Exploring Boston’s major attractions — including the Boston Symphony Orchestra — is a great way to expand your range of experiences, and student passes allow you to enjoy world-class performances at a discounted rate. Classical track can inspire a wide array of emotions, storytelling techniques and ensemble arrangements that come together to create a memorable experience for all students who attend.
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