HarVest Bank of Maryland Signs Two Year BSO at Strathmore Sponsorship 

Locally Owned Bank Continues Long Standing Support

ROCKVILLE, MD - HarVest Bank of Maryland, a locally owned, full service commercial bank headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD, today announced a two -year agreement to support the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at Strathmore. The agreement includes concert sponsorship of the Pictures of Music Concert on February 11, 2010, with acclaimed Maestra Marin Alsop conducting the BSO in a program featuring Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition and the East Coast premiere of a newly completed composition by legendary jazz artist Dave Brubeck. The concert marks the fifth year that HarVest Bank of Maryland has provided concert sponsorship support to the BSO at Strathmore, with earlier concerts featuring the BSO with Art Garfunkel, or performing works by Gershwin, Copland and Vivaldi. 

"We are delighted to announce our renewed support of the BSO at Strathmore and look forward to enjoying these great concerts with our Maryland neighbors," commented Jack Hollerbach, President and CEO of HarVest and a Board Member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. "Our support of the arts, kids programs and medical and business initiatives in our community has been an integral part of our success to date.  Being directly involved in these worthy endeavors is what sets us apart from the enormous out-of-state banks that clutter the landscape with endless advertising. That's what we mean by our motto, HarVest Bank of Maryland is "Bringing Maryland Banking Back Home^TM."

"HarVest Bank of Maryland has been a great friend of the Baltimore Symphony since the Orchestra began performing at Strathmore," said Paul Meecham, President and CEO of the Baltimore Symphony. "By making a multi-year commitment to the Orchestra, HarVest Bank of Maryland is demonstrating a deep commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Montgomery County. We are very grateful for their generous support, and for Jack Hollerbach's leadership as a member of the BSO Board of Directors."

The Bank has been recognized with several community awards involving sponsorship of the arts and education including its designation as 2006 Small Business of the Year by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, the 2009 Good Scout Award and the Smart CEO Fast 50/Five on Fire Award. In 2005, as the new state-of-the-art Strathmore facility opened to the public, HarVest was the first corporate sponsor of the BSO at its new second home and took the lead in developing the BSO Business Partners, an arts oriented business networking group, in addition to its concert sponsorships.  

HarVest Bank of Maryland opened for business in late 2004 and has grown to $207 Million in assets as of March 31, 2009. HarVest operates four full service branches located in North Rockville, Germantown, Bethesda and Frederick, MD. The Bank's headquarters are located at 15810 Gaither Drive, Suite 220, in Gaithersburg, MD. 

About HarVest Bank of Maryland
HarVest Bank of Maryland is a locally owned and operated full service commercial bank dedicated to serving customers in the I-270 corridor. The Bank is committed to delivering superior service, value and convenience to its customers by leveraging the skills, experience and knowledge of its Board of Directors and management team. HarVest Bank of Maryland is a member bank of the FDIC and an equal opportunity lender. For more information on HarVest Bank of Maryland and its services, call (301) 838-HBMDtm or log on to www.harvestbankmd.com.  
 
About the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1916, 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 BSO will made musical history at the start of the 2007-2008 season, when Maestra Marin Alsop assumed the baton as the Orchestra's 12th music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra. Maestra Alsop's concerts signify the dawn of a new era for the BSO, as she brings her highly praised artistic vision, her dynamic musicianship and her commitment to accessibility in classical music to BSO audiences.

With the opening of the Music Center at Strathmore in February 2005, the BSO became the nation's first major orchestra with year-round venues in two metropolitan areas. As the founding partner and resident orchestra of the Music Center, the BSO presents 35 performances at the venue annually.

At Strathmore, the BSO is actively involved in giving back to Montgomery County and the Greater Washington, D.C. area, continuing the Orchestra's 82-year history of high-quality education programs for music-lovers of all ages. In addition to mid-week education concerts, the BSO collaborates with the Levine School of Music and MCYO to present lectures series and master classes for area youth. Last season, the BSO launched its newest education initiative, BSO on the Go, which brings small groups of BSO musicians into local schools for free interactive music education workshops.