The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is internationally recognized as having achieved a preeminent place among the world's most important orchestras. Acclaimed for its uncompromising pursuit of artistic excellence, the Baltimore Symphony has attracted a devoted national and international following while maintaining deep bonds throughout Maryland through innovative education and community outreach initiatives.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra strives to present an array of programs that support music education.  Here is a few of our programs that may be of interest to you.

Mid-week Education Concerts

The BSO Midweek Education Concerts provide an interactive experience for students in Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade. Each concert features exciting orchestral works and explores key arts integrated themes. All concerts are aligned to meet state and national curriculum and common core standards.

2012-2013 Midweek Education Concerts:

Family Concerts
Family Concerts are recommended for children 4 & up and their families.  The BSO Family Fun Zone features attractions for the whole family, beginning at 10 a.m. before each concert.   Explore the Music and Arts instrument petting zoo, learn about exotic animals from the Maryland Zoo's ZOOmobile or get your face painted--all in the Meyerhoff lobby!

ORCHKids
OrchKids is an after-school program designed to effect social change and nurture promising futures for youth in Baltimore City’s low-income neighborhoods. In collaboration with a broad array of community partners, the BSO’s OrchKids program will provide music education, instruments and mentorship to Baltimore’s neediest youngsters.

Open Rehearsals
The BSO opens six rehearsals each season, allowing middle and high school and college students to attend free by reservation.  Through these rehearsals, students are able to experience the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in its creative process. Question and answer sessions with the guest artist take place at the break as well as a Q & A following the rehearsal with Marin Alsop.

BSO on the Go
Experience the magic of the BSO in an intimate setting! Bring a BSO musician to your school or community. This program offers performances by individuals and small ensembles of the BSO, addressing topics ranging from musical careers, instrument families, music history and even multi-day residencies. On-The-Go musicians are available to present to student and adult audiences.

Side by Side Concerts
Side by Side Concerts provide an opportunity for the most talented public school musicians to perform in concert with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.  In order to gain this opportunity, students audition before county-appointed adjudicators.   Eligibility is contingent on participation in the students' school music program.  Additionally, students must be recommended by their teacher and students' conduct and musicianship must be exemplary.   Each Side by Side event is tailored to suit the needs of each county.  Some counties have a Young Soloist Competition wherein students audition to play a movement of a concerto with the Orchestra.  In addition to the final concert experience, BSO musicians go to each county to coach students on the repertoire in order to help prepare them for their concert experience.  Counties that have participated in these side by side experiences are:

Musical Mentors
Let your students experience the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra both inside and outside of the concert hall! An exciting program for instrumental students, Musical Mentors allows visiting groups to book workshops with BSO musicians in tandem with tickets to a BSO performance. Providing students personal interaction with the world-class BSO musicians, the Musical Mentors program offers a variety of BSO-led educational workshops to students in middle school through college including: full orchestra/band coachings, instrumental sectionals, and solo performer masterclasses.

Hall Tours
Take a sneak peek behind the scenes of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra! Backstage tours of the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall are available to adult and student groups free of charge. For more information or to schedule a tour contact the Education Department at 410.783.8118 or education@bsomusic.org.

Free tours of the Music Center at Strathmore are offered on a regular schedule and may be arranged through the Music Center at Strathmore (not through the BSO). To inquire about the tour schedule at the Music Center at Strathmore, please call 301.581.5200.