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

The BSO made musical history in September 2007, when Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestra's 12th music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra. With her highly praised artistic vision, her dynamic musicianship and her commitment to accessibility in classical music, Maestra Alsop's directorship has ushered in a new era for the BSO and its audiences.

Year Established: 1916, as a branch of the Baltimore municipal government; reorganized as a private institution in 1942.

Mission: To make music of the highest quality and to enhance Baltimore and Maryland as a cultural center of interest, vitality and importance.

Music Director: Marin Alsop
Concertmaster: Jonathan Carney
Music Director Emeritus: Yuri Temirkanov
Chairman of the Board: Kenneth W. DeFontes, Jr.
Principal Pops Conductor: Jack Everly
President and CEO: Paul Meecham

Musicians: 80
Administrative Staff: 60 Full-Time and 18 Part-Time
Board Members: 47
Operating budget: $26.4 million
Annual attendance: 300,000+

BSO concerts in 2012-2013: 130+, including Classical, Off the Cuff, SuperPops and Family series concerts, as well as run-out performances and summer programming.

World premiere performances since founding: 88, including 41 commissioned works

Recordings: The Grammy Award-winning BSO has achieved critical success for its prolific discography. Since becoming Music Director, Marin Alsop has made a number of recordings with the BSO. In August 2009, Bernstein's Mass under the direction of Music Director Marin Alsop was released on the Naxos label. Nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Classical Album category, the critically acclaimed album rose to number six on the Classical Billboard Charts. Between 2007 and 2009, Maestra Alsop and the BSO recorded a three-disc Dvořák cycle of Symphonies Nos. 6 through 9 on Naxos. In 2010, the BSO under Alsop was joined by pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet for a Decca recording of works by Gershwin including Rhapsody in Blue and the Piano Concerto. In 2012, recordings of Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra coupled with Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, and Mahler's Symphony No.1 ‘Titan,' will be released on Naxos in May and September respectively.

Education and Outreach: The BSO presents a Midweek Education Concert series, daytime educational concerts for area schoolchildren throughout Maryland . In addition to these programs and the BSO's Family Concert series, BSO on the Go brings small groups of BSO musicians into local schools for free, interactive music education workshops. The BSO also presents annual Side-by-Side concerts with local students from public high schools, giving aspiring musicians an opportunity to perform and study with professional musicians. OrchKids™ is the BSO's during- and after-school music education and life-enrichment initiative, designed to create social change to Baltimore communities.

Volunteers: The 400+ members of the Baltimore Symphony Associates (BSA) use their time, energy and financial support to benefit the education programs of the BSO. Among the BSA's fundraising activities are the Symphony Store, Symphony Homes for the Holidays and the Symphony Decorators' Show House.

The Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Opening: September 16, 1982─the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with Sergiu Comissiona (conductor) and Leon Fleisher (piano)
Capacity: 2,443
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in the 2012-2013 season, the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall has been the home of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra since its opening in 1982. Ground was broken for the hall in November 1978 in order to provide the BSO with a top-notch concert hall befitting of a world-class orchestra. The building was made possible through the financial and administrative support of the late Joseph Meyerhoff.

The Music Center at Strathmore
Opening: February 5, 2005─the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with Yuri Temirkanov (conductor), Yo-Yo Ma (cello) and Janice Chandler-Eteme (soprano)
Capacity: 1,976
With the opening of the Music Center at Strathmore in February 2005, the Baltimore Symphony became the nation's first orchestra with year-round venues in two metropolitan areas.

Administrative Offices
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
1212 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, Md. 21201

The Music Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md. 20850

Phone: 410.783.8100 (Administrative Offices) | 410.783.8000 or 877.BSO.1444 (Ticket Office)
Web site: BSOmusic.org