Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Kicks Off Summer Season with Star-Spangled Spectacular, July 3-4

BSO announces 2nd annual “O, Say Can You Sing Contest”; winner to perform national anthem with BSO

Baltimore, Md. (May 27, 2009)— The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will kick off its 2009 summer season at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville, Md. on July 3 and 4 at 8:00 p.m. with Star-Spangled Spectacular, an all-American salute to our nation’s founding. Guest conductor Damon Gupton will lead the BSO in classical patriotic favorites including Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever. Each concert will begin with the national anthem led by the winner(s) of the BSO’s “O, Say Can You Sing” competition and end with a dazzling fireworks display. See below for complete program information.

Last season, more than 60 contestants auditioned for the chance to sing the National Anthem alongside the BSO. Nine-year-old Maya Goldman of Columbia and 13-year-old Vibav Mouli of Reisterstown snagged the coveted positions. These gifted youngsters not only performed with the BSO, but were also featured on several local TV and radio programs. Maya has even been invited back to perform “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” from the classic American film The Wizard of Oz, as part of this year’s Star-Spangled Spectacular. The Baltimore Symphony invites another crop of talented singers aged 8-18 to audition on Monday, June 15, 2009 for this prestigious opportunity. Reagan Warfield from the 106.5 FM JoJo, Reagan and the Mix Morning Show will serve as celebrity judge alongside BSO staff members and local vocal experts. See below for registration and audition instructions.

For more than 20 years, the BSO at Oregon Ridge has been a Baltimore-area summer tradition, drawing tens of thousands for family fun, music and fireworks in the wooded enclaves of the Cockeysville, Md. park. Concertgoers are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic dinners for a full evening of entertainment with the BSO. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. Patrons are invited to come early and enjoy dinner, drinks and desserts from local venders. Each concert begins at 8:00 p.m. and concludes with a brilliant fireworks display.

Damon Gupton, conductor
A native of Detroit, Damon Gupton recently relocated to Kansas City, Mo. from New York City when he assumed the position of assistant conductor with the Kansas City Symphony for the 2006-2007 season. Mr. Gupton received his bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Michigan, then earned his diploma from The Drama Division of the Juilliard School in New York. He studied conducting with David Zinman and Murry Sidlin at the Aspen Music Festival and with Leonard Slatkin at the National Conducting Institute in Washington, D.C. He served as American Conducting Fellow of the Houston Symphony for the 2004-2005 season, and has made conducting appearances with the Cleveland Orchestra (as part of a Blossom program with David Zinman), the Toledo Symphony, the New York University Orchestra and the Orchestra of St. Luke's. Upcoming conducting appearances include the Kinhaven Music School in Weston, Vt. and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.

COMPLETE PROGRAM INFORMATION
Summer Nights: Star-Spangled Spectacular
Oregon Ridge Park, 13555 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville, MD 21030

Friday, July 3, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.*
Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.**

*Rain date will be July 4th concert.
**Rain date will be “The Music of John Williams” on July 25th.

Damon Gupton, conductor
Maya Goldman, vocalist
“O, Say Can You Sing” competition winner(s)  
 
John Stafford Smith: "Star-Spangled Banner"   
Charles Ives/Orch. William Schumann: Variations on America   
Arr. Jeff Tyzik: Great Westerns Suite   
John Phillip Sousa: Washington Post March    
Arr. Robert Lowden: Armed Forces Salute  
Samuel Augustus Ward/ Arr. Carmen Dragon: "America the Beautiful"  
Ferde Grofé: “Sunset” from Grand Canyon Suite  
John Williams: “Flight to Neverland” from Hook  
Meredith Willson/ Arr. Leroy Anderson: "76 Trombones" from The Music Man  
Richard Rodgers/ Arr. Calvin Custer: “The Carousel Waltz” from Carousel  
Harold Arlen: "Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz  
Arr. Matthew Naughtin: Ashokan Farewell  
John Williams: “Hymn to the Fallen” from Saving Private Ryan  
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: 1812, Overture solonelle, opus 49  
John Phillip Sousa: Stars and Stripes Forever   
          

Oregon Ridge Parking and Shuttle Service
July 3 and 4: Free parking is available at the Verizon lot on Shawan Road with free shuttles to the park. Permits for onsite parking can be purchased for $10 in advance from the BSO Ticket Office, 410.783.8000, 877.BSO.1444 or BSOmusic.org.

Tickets
Advance tickets are $18 for adults and $9 for children under 12 at the BSO Ticket Office, 410.783.8000, 877.BSO.1444 or BSOmusic.org.
If purchased at the gate, tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12. 
 

Sponsors
Summer Nights at Oregon Ridge is presented by Aegon, with media sponsorship provided by The Baltimore Sun, WBAL TV, WBAL AM 1090 and WAMU 88.5.

“O, Say Can You Sing” contest details:
“O, Say Can You Sing” the National Anthem with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra? Capitalizing on American Idol’s appeal among local tweens and teens for the second year, the BSO will host the singing competition, “O, Say Can You Sing.” Auditions will take place on Monday, June 15 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Contestants will vie for the chance to sing the national anthem alongside the BSO in front of thousands at the BSO’s annual Star-Spangled Spectacular concerts held at Oregon Ridge Park, July 3-4. The competition is open to singers age 8 to 18.

Contestants must be able to sing the “Star-Spangled Banner” in the key of B-flat or A-flat major along with an accompanist provided by the BSO. Contestants will not be allowed to sing without accompaniment.  All entrants must be available for both performances. Reagan Warfield from the 106.5 FM JoJo, Reagan and the Mix Morning Show will serve as celebrity judge alongside BSO staff members and local vocal experts. Contestants will be judged on singing ability and stage presence.

Auditions will be by appointment only and parental permission will be required of all contestants under the age of 18. Contestants (or contestant’s parent/guardian) must email singingcontest@bsomusic.org by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2009 to register for an audition time. Registration must include the contestant’s name, email address, home and cell phone numbers, audition time preference and a brief paragraph explaining why the contestant would like to sing the National Anthem with the BSO. Audition times will be distributed on a “first come, first served” basis. Visit BSOmusic.org to download an information/waiver form which is required to audition.

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