Position Title: Copywriter and Content Specialist
Department: Communications
Salary Range: $35–$40 per hour (Commensurate with experience)
Employee Group: Casual
Work Schedule: Hours vary up to 20/hrs a week (Traditional and Non-Traditional work hours include some nights and weekends)
FLSA: Non-exempt
Location: JHMS
Work Modality: Remote (While this role is remote, candidates local to Maryland or within reasonable proximity to attend occasional BSO performances or meetings may be preferred)
Reports to: Director of Communications

Position Summary:

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra seeks a Copywriter and Content Specialist to lead content development for Overture, the BSO’s bi-monthly program notes publication. This position will support the Communications team by producing engaging, insightful, and brand-aligned written materials that speak to BSO audiences, including classical music enthusiasts, donors, and community stakeholders. The ideal candidate is a skilled writer with a deep understanding of music and a demonstrated ability to craft compelling narratives for performing arts audiences. Experience in journalism, program note writing, or performance arts publishing is strongly preferred.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Write and edit engaging editorial content for Overture, including feature articles, artist profiles, organizational blurbs, and executive messages.
• Translate institutional messages into compelling stories from the voice of the BSO, its Music Director, and/or President & CEO.
• Collaborate with internal departments — including Marketing, Advancement, and Artistic — to align copy with institutional messaging and priorities.
• Conduct research and interviews to develop context-rich storytelling that resonates with BSO’s diverse audiences.
• Ensure all copy adheres to BSO style, tone, and brand guidelines.
• Editorial & Administrative Tasks
• Assist in maintaining and managing the Overture production schedule, including communicating deadlines and coordinating internal reviews.
• Liaise with program annotators, proofreaders, designers, and printers to ensure timely delivery and quality control.
• Assist in collecting and fact-checking content contributions across departments.
• Participate in editorial planning meetings and contribute to integrated content strategy across print, PR, and digital platforms.
• Support proofreading, editing, and layout review processes.
• Attend team meetings and performances when necessary to stay connected to the organization’s work and storytelling needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, communications, music, or related field — or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2 years of professional writing or editorial experience, ideally in performing arts, music journalism, or cultural organizations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills with keen attention to detail and grammar.
• Proven ability to adopt and adapt to institutional tone, voice, and perspective.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to work collaboratively across teams.
• Comfortable managing editorial calendars, deadlines, and file workflows using tools like Microsoft Office, Google Drive, or Asana.
• Highly organized, deadline-driven, and capable of delivering consistent work quality in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Solid understanding of classical music and music terminology, with genuine enthusiasm for the performing arts.

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 Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs annually for more than 275,000 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 www.bsomusic.org.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and OrchKids do not discriminate in employment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, differing physical abilities, genetic information, age, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.

EEO is the Law: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf