Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Announces Immersive 2026–27 Season as It Marks 110 Years of Music in Maryland 

Media Contact:
Whitney Clemmons Brown
Director of Communications
wbrown@BSOmusic.org
410-783-8072 

Allison Burr-Livingstone
SVP and Chief of Advancement & Communications
ablivingstone@BSOmusic.org
410-783-8034  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2026 

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Announces Immersive 2026–27 Season as It Marks 110 Years of Music in Maryland
Illumination-inspired season features landmark artists, premieres, vocal masterpieces, and new concert series 

BALTIMORE, MD – Today, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) announced its 2026–27 season, marking 110 years since the Orchestra’s founding with a wide-ranging lineup that pairs artistic ambition with immersive experiences and new ways to engage with the symphony across its Baltimore and North Bethesda homes. 

Guided by the season theme of Illuminated Through Sound, the BSO’s 2026–27 season places visual storytelling, atmosphere, and physical movement at the center of the concert experience. Immersive presentations such as Holst’s The Planets: An HD Odyssey and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition pair orchestral sound with projected imagery, while live-to-film performances including Psycho in Concert and Amadeus LIVE (featuring the Cathedral Choral Society) transform the concert hall into a cinematic space. A ballet-driven throughline featuring The Firebird, Romeo and Juliet, and The Miraculous Mandarin further emphasizes movement, color, and dramatic momentum. 

Season Opening Gala with Samara Joy
The season opens with the BSO’s annual Gala Celebration on Friday, September 25, at The Music Center at Strathmore and Saturday, September 26, at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, featuring GRAMMY Award–winning jazz vocalist Samara Joy with unique twists on timeless classics from Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday. Led by Music Director Jonathon Heyward, the Gala serves as the Orchestra’s signature fundraiser, bringing together cultural, civic, and philanthropic leaders in support of the BSO’s artistic and education mission. Special appearances by students from OrchKids and the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras highlight the Orchestra’s long-standing commitment to nurturing young talent. 

“As we mark 110 years since the founding of this Orchestra, we’re honoring its legacy by continuing to evolve,” said Mark C. Hanson, President and CEO of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. “This season reflects our responsibility to serve our community by remaining artistically bold, relevant, and welcoming to audiences at every stage of their relationship with the BSO.” 

A Milestone Year Rooted in Masterworks  

A defining focus of the season is its engagement with historic repertoire and artistic landmarks. As part of the international observance marking 200 years since the death of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827), the BSO presents a broad exploration of the composer’s work, including an illuminating Beyond the Score® exploration of the Fifth Symphony and a rare undertaking by pianist Yeol Eum Son, who performs all five Beethoven piano concertos in a single week. 

The season reaches operatic heights with a theatrical production of Verdi’s Requiem. Verdi’s monumental work channels the full force of the composer’s dramatic imagination, bringing vocal intensity to a sacred text. Under Heyward’s direction, the season-concluding performances reveal how the composer carried his theatrical voice beyond the opera house. 

Introducing 2026-27 Composer in Residence 

Jonathan Leshnoff, a Towson University professor and Baltimore-based composer with international reach, joins the BSO as Composer in Residence for the 2026-27 season. Distinguished by The New York Times as “a leader of contemporary American lyricism,” Leshnoff’s residency centers on creation, mentorship, and community connection. The season will feature multiple world premieres, including the composer’s Symphony No. 6, conceived as an artistic reflection on the city of Baltimore and presented with powerful visual imagery, and a new violin concerto written for Gil Shaham. Beyond the mainstage, Leshnoff’s work includes a season-long engagement linking students from OrchKids, the Baltimore School for the Arts, and the Peabody Institute, extending the impact of his residency this season and for years to come. 

Landmark Artists, Guest Conductors, and Living Composers 

The 2026–27 season features a distinguished roster of internationally recognized guest artists, underscoring the BSO’s national standing. Highlights include appearances by globally acclaimed pianists Jan Lisiecki, Bruce Liu, Garrick Ohlsson, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and Lukáš Vondráček; violinists Isabelle Faust, Vadim Gluzman, and Ning Feng; and mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron. 

Music Director Laureate and OrchKids Founder Marin Alsop returns for two programs, while guest conductors such as Giancarlo Guerrero, Christopher Dragon, Damon Gupton, and others bring a wide range of interpretive voices to the season. 

Championing the voices of diverse and living composers remains central to the BSO’s artistic vision. In June, the Orchestra will present performances of Baltimore-born composer Philip Glass’ new Symphony No. 15, “Lincoln.” John Adams’ Pulitzer Prize–winning On the Transmigration of Souls anchors the Orchestra’s fall commemoration of the 25th anniversary of September 11. Throughout the season, the BSO also spotlights the work of today’s leading women composers, including work by Anna Clyne, Valerie Coleman, Salina Fisher, Dobrinka Tabakova, and Andrea Tarrodi; and talented women composers from prior eras, including Elfrida Andrée, Lili Boulanger, Augusta Holmès, Vítězslava Kaprálová, and Emilie Mayer. 

“This season is about illuminating music as a living, breathing force,” said Music Director Jonathon Heyward. “From historic masterworks to new music shaped by this city, we’re inviting audiences into experiences that are vivid, meaningful, and deeply human.” 

New To the BSO This Season  

New for the 2026–27 season, the BSO launches the Signature Series, a selection of the Orchestra’s most visible and high-impact performances. These large-scale events anchor the season and reflect the breadth and ambition of the BSO’s programming. Highlights include Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony, a multimedia concert experience featuring Dolly Parton on screen;  an evening dedicated to the film and concert music of Joe Hisaishi, the internationally celebrated composer best known for his work with Studio Ghibli; and a special New Year’s celebration of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony led by local favorite guest conductor Peter Oundjian. 

The Orchestra also introduces two new lifestyle series at the Meyerhoff, designed to meet contemporary schedules and increase flexibility. The Coffee Series presents full classical programs on four Friday mornings, offering a calm, welcoming setting and an inviting way to begin the day. The Symphony at Six Series debuts with four early-evening Saturday performances paired with curated pre-concert gatherings, post-concert conversations with Music Director Jonathon Heyward, and partnerships with local restaurants offering post-concert dining options. 

The Return of BSO Collections  

The BSO Collections return for the 2026–27 season, offering a framework for navigating a wide-ranging anniversary year. 

The Classical Collection anchors the season with major symphonic works, internationally recognized soloists, and a strong commitment to living composers. Heyward leads a guided introduction and full performance of Shostakovich’s “Leningrad” Symphony No. 7, a work with timely messages of resistance and survival. The Orchestra also welcomes the BSO debut of Daniele Rustioni, Principal Guest Conductor of the Metropolitan Opera, leading a Strauss program that underscores the Orchestra’s continued connection to the international operatic and symphonic stage. Members of the BSO shine as soloists, including Principal Clarinet YaoGuang Zhai in Copland’s Clarinet Concerto and Principal Violist Lisa Steltenpohl in Berlioz’s Harold in Italy. Building on a successful pilot season, classical superstars are also presented in recital as part of the Live at the Meyerhoff Series including pianist Evgeny Kissin and violinist Nemanja Radulović, appearing with his ensemble Double Sens. 

The Popular Collection features an expanded film-with-orchestra series, high-profile pops concerts, and genre-crossing programs that continue to expand the Orchestra’s reach. Standout performances include Coco Live-to-Film Concert, Home Alone and The Goonies in Concert, the music of Star Wars on the iconic franchise’s 50th anniversary, and the return of audience-favorite BSO Fusion, where the music of Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar intersect with classical repertoire through arranger/conductor Steve Hackman’s genius. 

The Celebrations Collection centers concerts tied to cultural traditions and shared community moments, including Holiday Pops featuring Broadway and television star Megan Hilty, Cirque Nutcracker, and Lunar New Year. 

The Sherman Foundation BSO Family Collection continues to expand access for families and young audiences, including a family-friendly presentation of The Planets: An HD Odyssey designed for audiences as young as 4 and up. Family Concerts, Music Box performances, and Kids Listen Free pricing continue to play a central role in the Orchestra’s commitment to accessibility. 

Tickets and Subscription Information Subscriptions for the 2026–27 season are now available. Single tickets will go on sale in Summer 2026. Learn more at BSOmusic.org/Subscribe or call 410-783-8000. 

Media can access the full season listing and additional information at BSOmusic.org/Subscribe. 

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra 

Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall | 1212 Cathedral Street | Baltimore, MD 21201
The Music Center at Strathmore | 5301 Tuckerman Lane | North Bethesda, MD 20852 

About the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra 

For over a century, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) has been recognized as one of America’s leading orchestras and one of Maryland’s most significant cultural institutions. The orchestra is internationally renowned and locally admired for its innovation, performances, recordings, and educational outreach initiatives, including OrchKids. 

The BSO performs annually for more than 350,000 people throughout the State of Maryland. Since 1982, the BSO has performed at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, and since 2005, with the opening of The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, MD, the BSO became the nation’s first orchestra performing its full season of classical and pops concerts in two metropolitan areas. 

In July 2022, the BSO made history with the announcement that Jonathon Heyward would succeed Music Director Laureate and OrchKids Founder Marin Alsop as the Orchestra’s next Music Director. Maestro Heyward began his inaugural season in September 2023. 

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a proud member of the League of American Orchestras. 

More information about the BSO can be found at BSOmusic.org. 

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