Buddha’s Light Youth Symphony Orchestra Presents a Musical Tribute of Gratitude — “So Grateful to Have You”
Reported by Zhiqian, The Life News Agency, Los Angeles, USA
To express heartfelt appreciation for the long-standing support and generous sponsorship of devotees from all directions, the Buddha’s Light Youth Symphony Orchestra (BLYSO), together with the Youth Division of the Los Angeles Subchapter of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA), jointly hosted the “So Grateful to Have You” Mother’s Day Appreciation Concert at noon on May 10th in the Courtyard of Hsi Lai Temple. Bathed in bright sunshine and guided by a spirit of gratitude, the event also featured a charity food fair with specialty snacks, inviting the public to share a warm, joyful, and Dharma-filled afternoon.
Under the baton of conductor Shota Hanai, 67 youth musicians used music as their medium, transforming inner gratitude into melodies dedicated to parents, Fo Guang members, and long-time Dharma protectors in attendance. The concert opened with a compassionate Dharma message by Venerable Zhixing, Deputy Superintendent of Hsi Lai Temple and the orchestra’s guiding monastic advisor. She reflected on the orchestra’s 32-year journey since its founding in 1993, noting that despite challenges over the years, the orchestra has continued to flourish thanks to the collective support and dedication of many. This July, the orchestra will return to Taiwan for a heritage-seeking concert tour, and this performance served as a sincere offering of gratitude and blessings ahead of their departure.
Venerable Zhixing also shared a Buddhist parable, “The Baker and the Zen Master,” encouraging the young musicians to regard their concert attire as professional “work uniforms” and to perform with utmost focus and pure intention, offering music as a form of spiritual giving. She praised the performance as more than a display of technical proficiency, but also as an expression of inner reverence and selfless offering. Notes became their language, melodies their prayers, with the wish that all mothers around the world may enjoy peace, health, and well-being.
The concert featured six diverse musical selections. The opening piece “The Song of Fo Guang Shan,” with lyrics written by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, Founding Master of Fo Guang Shan, paid tribute to the spirit of Fo Guang Shan and the orchestra’s musical origins. This was followed by Mozart’s Divertimento, light and joyful in character. Next came “Dance of Dionysus” and the South American Tango Suite, both rhythmically vibrant and showcasing the orchestra’s youthful energy and musical intensity.
The highlight of the program, “You Raise Me Up,” arranged by Jerry Brubaker, was accompanied by a touching gesture: youth members presented flowers to every female guest in the audience, honoring mothers, grandmothers, and all who embody maternal love. The moment was solemn, warm, and deeply moving.
The concert concluded with the powerful “007 James Bond Theme” and “Legacy of the Warrior,” bringing the event to a rousing close. These final pieces embodied the resilience and forward-looking spirit of the young musicians, symbolizing their aspirations and determination as they prepare for their upcoming Taiwan tour.
Tsai Yueh-Chin, President of the Los Angeles Chapter of BLIA, remarked that as times evolve and society changes rapidly, methods of Dharma propagation must also adapt and diversify. She noted that the young performers’ wholehearted dedication and their expression of gratitude through music clearly demonstrated the direction of a new generation of Dharma propagation. BLYSO actively participates in community and interfaith events and has received widespread acclaim. Their Taiwan tour in July is expected to achieve further success.
Photo Captions (Photos 01–10 by Chih Cheng)
