Dear Friends,
It’s only October, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s 2025–26 Season has already made its mark. This fall has been filled with significant announcements and momentum, and I am writing to thank you for being part of it, and to share some of the exciting progress happening at your BSO.
A Season of Renewal
In September, we reached a major milestone by signing a new three-year agreement with our musicians. This progressive contract is the most financially ambitious contract in more than a decade (including a 12% raise in minimum musician salary), strengthening our shared vision for a vibrant, sustainable future. It reinforces what we all know: the BSO’s artistry is at its best when we move forward together.
Fresh talent and new perspectives are joining our family. We welcomed three outstanding new musicians to the Orchestra: Andrew Eng (Section Viola), Ha Young Jung (Principal Bass), and Abigail Kent (Principal Harp). The BSO’s artistic team is further strengthened with the appointment of Assistant Conductor Jiannan Cheng, and our inaugural Conducting Fellow, Tatiana Pérez-Hernández, whose roles expand opportunities for emerging artists. As we begin the search for our next Concertmaster to follow Jonathan Carney (retiring after the 2026-27 Season), you'll notice occasional guest leaders joining us on stage.
Most recently, we were thrilled to announce that Jonathon Heyward, the Harvey M. and Lyn P. Meyerhoff Music Director, will continue his tenure with an extended contract through the 2030–31 Season. We are eager to see where his artistry, energy, and commitment to community continue to take us. We also enjoy our ongoing relationship with Music Director Laureate and OrchKids Founder Marin Alsop, who returns for her first of two concerts in November.
Education & Community
As our artistic momentum grows on the stage, our commitment to the community grows in turn.
Jonathon Heyward makes his Education and Family Series conducting debut during our first Midweek Education Concerts on October 30 and the BSO “Skel-ebration” Family Day on November 1. Thanks to the newly named Sherman Foundation BSO Family Collection, this program is just one of more than a dozen kid- friendly activities giving our youngest audience members a chance to discover the wonder of symphonic music.
Assistant Conductor Jiannan Cheng makes her debut at a Symphony in the City concert at Johns Hopkins University on November 19, bolstered by an offer for many Johns Hopkins University students to receive free Student Select passes that admit them to BSO concerts all season.
And later this month, a BSO delegation will travel to China for a four-city tour — our first in that region in more than a decade. We are honored to again step into the familiar role of cultural ambassador abroad through the talents of an ensemble of BSO musicians, and to contribute to international relationship building on a local and statewide level.
The Expanding Experience
More people are discovering what makes the BSO special. Last year, we saw a 35% increase in the number of attending households, and we’re on track for another strong season.
We’re proud to say that nearly every concert we present is shared in both of our remarkable venues — Strathmore and the Meyerhoff. One connects us regionally, the other roots us deeply in Baltimore. Each place resonates with its own energy and audience, so look out for our new venue-specific bi-monthly Patron Guides that highlight all the opportunities available to you.
Now you can stay connected to the BSO, wherever you are, too! The BSO App offers insiders like you personalized offers, ticket access, and tools to plan your experience. Between concerts, we invite you to listen to Sympiphany: A Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Podcast, a new look at the moments when music connects us. I hope you’ll tune in on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform.
More Than Music: The Meyerhoff as a Hall for All
As stewards of the Meyerhoff, we aim to realize its full potential as a place where music, community, and possibility meet. The next phase of a multi-year modernization project will be revealed next month, including a renovated Zamoiski Room, and our backstage Musicians’ Lounge.
Finally, we are thrilled to light up the Meyerhoff even when the Orchestra isn’t on stage, with the Live at the Meyerhoff Series. The new season kicked off with Pink Martini and will continue this fall with the incomparable Itzhak Perlman, Bernadette Peters, and Leslie Odom, Jr.
Looking Ahead — Our Next Movement Together
Every milestone this year has been shaped by you — your enthusiasm, your generosity, and your belief in what music can do.
As we look ahead, I hope you’ll remain an active part of this movement by bringing a friend, tuning in to Sympiphany, or simply sharing your own “aha” moment with us at a concert or at BSOmusic.org/podcast. Each connection keeps the BSO vibrant and strengthens the community we create together.
Thank you for helping us reflect Maryland’s spirit through brilliant music — and for proving that the joy of the symphony truly grows when it’s shared.
With gratitude,
Mark C. Hanson
President & CEO
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
P.S. Visit BSOmusic.org/Reports for our next Annual Report, available digitally in November, looking back at the milestones of the 2024-25 Season and expanding on our priorities for the 2025-26 Season underway. Also available on this page are recent financial reports including annual audits.
