BSO Academy Programs
Fri, June 20 - Sat, June 28, 2025
"I was overwhelmed to be in the middle of a professional orchestral sound again. It brought back wonderful memories and emotions from decades ago. In the intervening years, no other orchestral experience has provided the sonic feedback I got from the BSO. This was a very good experience."
David Myford, Violin, 1st time BSO Academy Participant
Symphonic Program
Apply for Group 1 or Group 2 of the Symphonic Program! Apply and participate in both (Space permitting and for an extra fee).
Please note that due to instrumentation and space restrictions, placement in the applicant’s preferred group is not guaranteed. Applications received before January 6th, 2025 will receive priority consideration.
Group 1
Repertoire:
Berlioz – Roman Carnival Overture
Respighi – Fountains of Rome
De Falla – The Three Cornered Hat, Suite no. 2
Group 2
Repertoire:
Berlioz – Benvenuto Cellini Overture
Respighi – Roman Festivals
BSO Academy participants who choose the Symphonic Program will perform and rehearse side-by-side with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, culminating in a final concert on Saturday, June 28th, 2025! Members of the Academy are split between two groups so that each Academy musician is seated next to a BSO Musician in a 1:1 ratio.
Each Symphonic Group recieves
- Large size, printed music for your assigned parts
- Preparatory Virtual Overview of the music with Maestro Hersh prior to the Academy
- Preparatory demos and discussions for your instrument with BSO musicians, prior to the Academy
- During the Academy, sectionals for your instrument led by a BSO Musician
- Four rehearsals side-by-side with the BSO and a performance, on-stage, at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Chamber Program
Participation in the Chamber Program entails playing in 1-2 larger Chamber Orchestras and one small chamber music ensemble. Each chamber group will have 4 rehearsals and a performance. Participants in the Symphonic Program can choose to play in Chamber Orchestra, or Chamber Ensemble, for an additional fee.
Chamber Orchestras
Orchestra B: Respighi – The Birds
Orchestra C: Ravel – Mother Goose Suite
Chamber Ensembles
included in Tuition
Workshops
Masterclasses & Special Topic Classes
"BSO Musicians will lead a masterclass for each individual instrument during the BSO Academy Program. There will also be several special topic classes where BSO Musicians share insights on music and performance related topics like: Music and Poetry, Style and Expression in Mahler & Tchaikovsky, How to REALLY Learn a Fugue, The Miraculous Metronome, Brass Survival Guides, and Dynamic String Section Playing.
Lunch & Learn
Lunches with BSO Musicians
Offered Wednesday through Friday during the BSO Academy, eat lunch with BSO musicians between rehearsals and ask them all your burning questions about music, life, the BSO, etc! Past vendors have included: Atwater's Traditional Food, Chipotle, the Big Greek Cafe, Amicci's of Little Italy, Honeygrow, Homeslyce, and others!
Faculty Chamber Concert & Welcome Dinner
BSO Musicians perform a chamber music concert exclusively for BSO Academy participants. Following the concert, BSO Faculty join participants for a sit down dinner and celebratory social event.
Add Ons
Private Lessons
Private Lessons with BSO Musicians are a popular add-on experience for BSO Academy! Prior to the beginning of the week, a list of faculty and sign-up form is distributed to participants along with a payment portal. Lessons are offered for $130/hr. Most lessons take place at the beginning of the week, and offer you a chance to work in depth on the repertoire you will be performing at the end of the week!
Solo with Piano Recital
Perform in a solo recital with your fellow BSO Academy participants! This is a fabulous opportunity to collaborate with our fabulous BSO pianist-in-residence, Lura Johnson! Each performer is offered a short rehearsal with Lura in which to rehearse a short piece (up to 7 minutes long) for performance on the recital! Participation in this recital costs $100, which compensates Lura for the time and preparation required to accompany you.
Additional Chamber Experiences
Participants in the Chamber Program can participate in all THREE Chamber Orchestras + a Chamber Ensemble for an additional fee of $650 (on top of the $1850 tuition). Participants in the Symphonic Group can participate in both Group 1 and Group 2 for an additional fee of $750. Questions? Email education@bsomusic.org.
BSO Academy 2025 At a Glance
| 2025 Program Dates | Friday, June 20th – Saturday, June 28th |
| Age Range | All participants must be 18 years old by the first day of the BSO Academy Week. The average age of BSO Academy Week participants is about 64 |
| Eligibility | Participants should have a basic knowledge of reading music, and some experience at their instrument |
| Who can apply? | Any orchestral instrumentalist, including: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Harp, Percussion, Piano, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, & Tuba |
| When do Applications open? | Applications open in early December. If you are a new to us please email education@bsomusic.org so we can notify you when applications are being accepted. Click here to apply! Application Fee: $100 (non-refundable) |
| When will Acceptances be sent? | The priority deadline for applications is January 6th. Acceptances will be sent shortly after. Applications received after this deadline will be accepted on a rolling basis until all instrument sections are full. For more information about the Timeline, Tuition, & Fees, see Tuition and Fees Section Below |
BSO Academy: June 20 - 28
- Friday, June 20th: Chamber Program Begins
- Saturday, June 21st: Solo with Piano recital
- Sunday, June 22nd: Symphonic Program begins and BSO Academy Faculty Concert & Welcome Dinner
- Tuesday, June 24th: Chamber Music Groups (small ensembles) Concert
- Friday, June 27th: Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble Workshops Concert
- Saturday, June 28th: Final Symphonic Concert and Reception
Example Day Schedule
While your day may look slightly different depending on what program you choose, here’s what a sample day at the BSO Academy might look like!
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9:00 AM-10:00 AM |
Individual Practice time |
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10:00 AM-11:30 AM |
Sectionals with BSO Musicians |
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11:30 AM-1:30 PM |
Lunch and Learn! Grab lunch with your fellow participants and learn about topics such as Music History, Wellness at your instrument, etc |
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1:45 PM-3:15 PM |
Classes with BSO Musicians. Topics such as: Dynamic Section Playing for Strings, English Horn workshops, Brass Boot Camp, The Miraculous Metronome and many more! |
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3:30 PM-5:00 PM |
Chamber Music Rehearsals or Workshops |
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5:30 PM-7:00 PM |
Faculty Chamber Music Concert + BSO Academy Welcome Dinner for Participants and BSO Musicians |
How to Apply
Click here to submit your application for the 2025 BSO Academy!
The BSO Academy does not require an audition to be accepted! A basic knowledge of reading music is required, and participants should be able to comfortably play or follow along with the level of selected repertoire and be able to contribute to conversations about techniques necessary to perform the repertoire.
We encourage all to apply! Many participants are not able to play every single note in a difficult passage – you don’t have to! The BSO Academy places you side-by-side with a pro, who will cover the parts beyond your ability. The BSO faculty will guide you with suggestions on how to simplify and practice difficult passages.
Reach out to education@bsomusic.org if you are not sure if this program is right for your level.
CPD Credit for Educators
For Music Educators: the Maryland State Department of Education offers CPD Credit to all teachers! To find out more, email education@bsomusic.org
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Click here to view the Completion for Credit Form from the Maryland Department of Education
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To make this program accessible, we offer a special HEAVILY discounted rate to teachers participating in the Academy for CPD credit!
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BSO Academy Tuition & Fees
Application fee – $100
***nonrefundable fee, in order for your application to be considered you must pay this fee upon application submission***
Symphonic Program Tuition – $1850
- A deposit of $500 is due by January 15th in order to confirm your participation in the 2025 BSO Academy
- The remaining $1350 is due March 15th
Chamber Program Tuition – $1850
- A deposit of $500 is due by January 15th in order to confirm your participation in the 2025 BSO Academy
- The remaining $1350 is due March 15th
Additional Fees
These are fees added to your balance if you would like to add to your BSO Academy experience by participating in more than one orchestral group or more than one chamber group, or more!
- Second Orchestral Group Placement – $750
- Add a Chamber Group to Symphonic Program – $650
- Add a Third Chamber Orchestra Placement to Chamber Program -- $650
- Private Lesson Fee – $130
- Solo with Piano Recital Participation – $100
Timeline
- Early December Application form opens
- Mid-January Notification of Acceptances *** If there are remaining vacancies in sections, applications will continue to be accepted until sections are full ***
- January 15th Deposits for programs are due ($500 for Symphonic Program, or $500 for Chamber Program, Additional fees may be due for add-on experiences)
- March 15th Total Tuition Balance is due
- April 15th Any remaining additional fees for added activities (such as private lessons or additional chamber groups) are due
- June 20th – June 28th 2025 BSO Academy week!
Financial Assistance
Refund Policy
The BSO Academy Week tuition and associated fees are non-refundable except in the case of a medical emergency or other extreme circumstance as determined by the BSO Education Department. No reduction in fees can be made for late arrival or early departure, so please plan travel accordingly.
FAQ
Not sure if the BSO Academy is right for you?
Reach out the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Education and Community Engagement department by emailing education@bsomusic.org! We are very happy to help and answer any questions you may have about the suitability of the program for you!
