Midweek Education Concerts
2026-27 MIDWEEKS
BSO Midweek concerts are symphonic concerts specifically designed to provide an engaging experience for students, through which they can explore orchestral repertoire. Curriculum guides provided for each concert assist teachers in preparing students for the event. In-person and online training sessions are available for our Link-Up Concert as well as free recorders available on request.
For questions or further assistance, please contact Patron Support at 410.783.8000 or PatronSupport@BSOmusic.org.
The Conductor’s Spellbook
Oct 28 & 29
Join young Tony Stradivarius on his field trip to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as he discovers the magic of the symphony.
The Nutcracker: A Magical Tale in Mt. Vernon
Dec 1 & 2
Get ready to be swept away by this reimagined version of The Nutcracker by Amy Hall Garner set in Baltimore. Dancers from BSA will be front and center as they present Tchaikovsky’s timeless music.
The Orchestra Rocks
Feb 17 & 18
Discover how the orchestra rocks through the Carnegie Hall Link Up Program, where students collaborate with the orchestra through recorder playing, singing, and dancing.
Shakespeare At The Symphony
Apr 7 & 8
Join the BSO in collaboration with the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company as the works of Shakespeare are brought to life on the symphonic stage.
Midweek Education Concerts are generously underwritten by the M&T Charitable Foundation, the Peggy & Yale Gordon Trust, and the Maryland State Department of Education. Additional major support is provided by the Patricia & Mark K. Joseph Music Education Fund for City Schools, the Zanvyl & Isabelle Krieger Endowed Fund for Education, and the Susan & Charles Shubin Endowment Fund.
Teacher Activity Guides
2026-27 Guides coming soon.
- STEAM Activated, Arts-Integrated, innovative teacher Resource Guides designed to enhance each concert program
- Created in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), guides are thoughtfully designed for each concert program by a hand-picked team of educators who specialize in music, social studies, science, English/Language Arts, drama and visual arts
- Written by expert advisors from Johns Hopkins, the National Park Service, the Maryland Historical Society and the Enoch Pratt Free Library
- Guides align to:
- State and National Curriculum
- Common Core Standards
- National Arts Standards » 21st Century Skills
GENERAL INFORMATION
How much do BSO Midweek Concert tickets cost?
BSO Midweek Concert tickets cost $7 each. Tickets are free for all Title I schools. For every fifteen (15) paid students, you receive one (1) complimentary chaperone ticket. Free bussing is provided for Title I schools in Baltimore City as funds allow.
How do I purchase tickets for BSO Midweek Concerts?
We encourage you to order tickets directly online by visiting BSOmusic.org/Midweek and clicking on the concert date/time of your choice. For groups larger than 300, please contact patron support at 410.783.8000 or 877.276.1444 who will help reserve your tickets. Many concert dates book up quickly, so please reserve your tickets in advance and no later than two weeks prior to the concert date. For help with your order please contact Patron Support at 410.783.8000 or 877.276.1444.
Payments must be received within two weeks of placing the order or two weeks prior to the performance date, whichever is earlier. Unpaid orders are subject to cancellation. The BSO cannot provide refunds or exchanges except in specific situations of unplanned school closures or delayed opening times (see “What happens in the event of inclement weather?”).
What is the seating process for Midweek Concerts?
Seating is done by Patron Support, if there are any needs regarding wheelchair seating, ASL interpreters or any other special accommodations, please call the box Patron Support at 410.783.8000 or 877.276.1444.
Please confirm with us if you need special accommodation a minimum of two weeks prior to the concert date.
Where are the concerts held?
Midweek Concerts are held at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore at 1212 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.
When will I receive my tickets to the concert?
After you place your order, you will receive confirmation reflecting the number of tickets purchased. If you are arriving with a small group, please head to the Box Office, where you will be directed where to sit. All schools will be directed by traffic control and BSO staff.
What happens in the event of inclement weather?
Inclement weather cancellations are primarily determined by the delays and closures of Baltimore City Public Schools. In the event of unplanned school closures or delayed opening times, tickets may be exchanged for a rescheduled concert date (subject to availability) or a Midweek concert in the same or following concert season (subject to availability), or refunded on a case-by-case basis.
If a student is absent, can I get a refund?
Unfortunately, no refunds or exchanges are possible for any circumstances except as indicated for specific situations of unplanned school closures (see “What happens in the event of inclement weather?”).
Can I take photographs during the concert?
No. Photos and video/audio recording are not permitted inside the concert hall. Recordings of the concert will be available for future viewing on the BSO Offstage website after the concert and are free to view.
Can my students sit in the hall or lobby to eat a snack or lunch?
Unfortunately, there is no space in the lobby for groups to eat. You must return to and move your buses immediately following the concert.
We are a small homeschool family. Can we still attend the Midweek Concerts?
Absolutely! Homeschool and small groups are encouraged to attend all our concerts. If you are part of a larger homeschool or co-op group, please make sure to reserve all of your tickets under the same name in order to be seated together. If members plan to arrive separately, each member must announce themselves under the same name.
Can I bring my young child if he/she sits on my lap?
You must purchase an individual ticket for each member of your group, regardless of age. If you need to bring a younger child, you may stay in the lobby and view the concert on video monitors. We do not recommend attendance at Midweek Concerts for children under the age of three.
I have a child with special needs in my class. How can I make sure his/her needs are met?
Please contact the Patron Support at 410.783.800 or 877.276. Every effort will be made to accommodate your group. The Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall is wheelchair accessible, and we offer assistance for students who are hard of hearing. Sign-interpreted performances may also be arranged upon request (requests must be made at the time of your reservation but no later than three weeks prior to each performance).
Who can I talk to if I have additional questions?
For questions regarding ticket purchases, arrival and check-in, or any special requests, please contact Patron Support at 410.783.800 or 877.276.1444.
Before the Concert
- Resource Guides: The BSO, in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), provides tailor-made teacher resources for each Midweek Concert program. All Curriculum Guides align to state and national curriculum and common core standards. Click on the “Teacher Resource Guides” tab to access free lesson plans.
- Special Needs: If members of your group have special needs, please list these needs on your order form, phone, or email. In addition, please contact Patron Support at 410.783.8000 or PatronSupport@BSOmusic.org at the time of your reservation but no later than two weeks prior to the concert to confirm all accommodations.
The Day of the Concert
- Please plan to arrive early to allow time for students to get settled and use the restrooms.
- If traveling by car or van, you may pay to park in one of the adjacent garages or on the street, if available. Please note that street parking on Preston & Cathedral Street is generally unavailable.
- Symphony Center Garage: Located on Park Avenue directly across from the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The cost is typically $15 per vehicle, cash only. Handicap parking is available.
- If you are traveling by bus: a BSO representative or Baltimore City Police Officer will greet your bus and instruct you on where to park. Please do not leave your bus unattended until receiving directions from a BSO representative or Baltimore City Police Officer. Bus drivers must remain with their bus during the performance.
- We will have someone direct your bus as to where to park. When you arrive, everyone must stay on the bus until traffic control staff instruct you to disembark.
- The bus will remain parked in the same location. After the concert, you'll return to where your bus was parked.
- Please make the bus drivers aware that they cannot leave once they have parked and students have been dropped off.
- If you are attending the second concert, please be aware that students cannot disembark from the bus and enter the hall until we have cleared out all the students from the first performance. Because of this, there may be extended or additional waiting on the bus before you’re allowed to enter the hall. Please plan accordingly.
- We will have staff and volunteers to help guide and direct you to the hall.
At the Concert
- When you enter the Hall, follow the instructions of the BSO staff for your seating.
- Remind your students that no food, drink or chewing gum is allowed in the Hall.
- Please turn off cell phones, cameras or any other video/recording devices.
After the Concert
- Ask your students to remain in their seats at the end of the concert. Please listen carefully as a BSO representative announces the dismissal procedure from the stage.
- Once your group is dismissed, proceed quickly and quietly to your designated exit. If you are unclear as to which exit to use, please do not hesitate to ask a BSO representative.
- We love hearing what students think about our programs! Ask your students to reflect on what they saw and heard at the BSO. Please send feedback to:
BSO Education Department
1212 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Education@BSOmusic.org
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the BSO Education Department at 410.783.8018 or Education@BSOmusic.org.
Directions to the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Coming from Downtown Baltimore
- Take Charles Street North past the Washington Monument.
- 6 blocks after the Monument, turn left at Preston Street and continue two blocks to Cathedral Street. The Meyerhoff is on the left at the corner of Cathedral and Preston.
- CARS: Park in Symphony Center Garage
Coming from Pennsylvania, Timonium, Cockeysville, Towson (and points north)
Park free at Timonium or Lutherville light rail stop and take the train to the Cultural Center stop or:
- Take I-83 South to Exit 6 (North Avenue/Mt. Royal Avenue). Stay in the center lane to go straight through the light (you will be on Mt. Royal Avenue) and go straight through 3 lights.
- Before the 4th light there is a fork in the road. Bear right at the fork. That will put you on Cathedral Street. The Meyerhoff is on the right side at the next corner (Cathedral and Preston).
- CARS: Park in Symphony Center Garage
Coming from Bel Air, Aberdeen, Havre de Grace, White Marsh
- Take I-95 South. Follow signs for I-95 Fort McHenry Tunnel to I-395 Downtown Baltimore.
- Follow the signs for Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (MLK) North.
- Take MLK North for about 3 miles to the intersection of MLK and Howard Street. Stay in your right lane.
- Follow the signs for Chase Street/I-83. Go through 3 lights. The Meyerhoff will be on your left.
- CARS: Park in Symphony Center Garage.
Coming from Virginia, Washington, Columbia (and points south)
- Take I-95 North to I-395 Downtown Baltimore (Exit 53).
- Follow the signs for Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (MLK) North.
- Take MLK North for about 3 miles to the intersection of MLK and Howard Street. Stay in your right lane.
- Follow the signs for Chase Street/I-83. Go through 3 lights. The Meyerhoff will be on your left.
- CARS: Park in Symphony Center Garage.
Coming from Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Severna Park, Pasadena
Park free at Cromwell or Ferndale light rail stop and take the train to the Cultural Center stop or:
- Take I-695 (Beltway) toward Towson.
- From I-695, take I-95 North to I-395 for Downtown Baltimore.
- Follow the signs for Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (MLK) North.
- Take MLK North for about 3 miles to the intersection of MLK and Howard Street. Stay in your right lane.
- Follow the signs for Chase Street/I-83. Go through 3 lights. The Meyerhoff will be on your left.
- CARS: Park in Symphony Center Garage.
Coming from West Virginia, Frederick (and points west)
- Take I-70 East and follow onto I-695 (Beltway) towards Glen Burnie.
- From I-695, take I-95 North to I-395 for Downtown Baltimore.
- Follow the signs for Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (MLK) North.
- Take MLK North for about 3 miles to the intersection of MLK and Howard Street. Stay in your right lane.
- Follow the signs for Chase Street/I-83. Go through 3 lights. The Meyerhoff will be on your left.
- CARS: Park in Symphony Center Garage.
MUSIC TO GIVE YOU GOOSEBUMPS
PRIME TIME - GRADES 3-6 AND UP
WED, OCT 25 AT 10 AM & 11:30 AM
THU, OCT 26 AT 10 AM
What makes music scary? Is it loud noises, screechy sounds, or the “tap-tap-tap” of skeleton footsteps? Join the BSO and award winning children’s author Anna Celenza for an afternoon of thrilling classics featuring witches, trolls, wizards, and monsters, including works by Camille Saint-Saens, Edvard Grieg, Franz Liszt, and John Williams. The concert will conclude with a musical setting of Celenza’s “Danse macabre” read by the author.
THE NUTCRACKER: A MAGICAL TALE IN MOUNT VERNON
TINY TOTS - PRE-K - GRADE 2 AND UP
WED, DEC 6 AT 10 AM & 11:30 AM
Get ready to be swept away by excerpts of this reimagined version of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Amy Hall Garner and set in the Baltimore neighborhood of Mount Vernon, featuring inspiration from many of our iconic community landmarks such as The Walters Art Gallery, Restaurante Tio Pepe and even the Fireworks from the Monument Lighting! Dancers from the Baltimore School for the Arts will be front and center as they perform to Tchaikovsky’s timeless score and bring the magic all around us to the stage!
JAZZING THE SYMPHONY
MUSIC FOR YOUTH - GRADES 4-8 AND UP
WED, FEB 7 AT 10 AM & 11:30 AM
THU, FEB 8 AT 10 AM
Jazz is America’s greatest indigenous artform. BSO Artistic Partner Wordsmith will lead us on a journey to discover the joys of jazz in the concert hall and its link to Baltimore history in this multimedia presentation of iconic works by Billie Holiday, Eubie Blake, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, and many more.
PHILHARMONIA FANTASTIQUE: THE MAKING OF THE ORCHESTRA
PRIME TIME - GRADES 3-6 AND UP
WED, APR 3 AT 10 AM & 11:30 AM
THU, APR 4 AT 10 AM
Experience the building of the orchestra! The centerpiece of this program is Philharmonia Fantastique: a 25-minute concerto and animated film that follows a magical Sprite on a musical journey through the instruments of the orchestra. By the film’s end, the families of the orchestra overcome their differences to demonstrate “unity from diversity” in a spectacular finale.
