Jonathon Heyward is Named Music Director of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

Dear Friends,

Nearly two years ago, we came together – musicians, Board leadership, community representatives, and members of management – to assist the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in the search for our next Music Director. 

Over the course of a truly extraordinary 2021-22 season, we had the opportunity to experience a dozen superb conductors from around the world lead our Orchestra. During each engagement, those of us on the search committee looked for the highest level of musicianship, informed first and foremost by musician feedback. It was equally as important for us to find a music director who would be a visionary leader with the potential to connect to the community, be visible in the world at large, and be an advocate for music and musicians. 

Toys for Toy Story

July 13, 2022

Dear BSO Family,

As you may have heard, we are embracing exciting opportunities, specifically new programming at our Baltimore home. We are thrilled to announce a Christmas in July initiative in partnership with the Kennedy Krieger Institute.

The BSO is giving away two complimentary tickets to our Toy Story in Concert performances on Friday, July 15^th, and Sunday, July 17^th in exchange for a new and unwrapped toy.

Toys will be collected in the lobby of the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, starting two hours before each performance. Tickets can be redeemed at that time. 

 

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2022-23 Season Concert Consolidation

July 8, 2022

Dear BSO Family,

As we begin the BSO’s next chapter, it’s important for us to make decisions that will help the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra continue to celebrate classical music and cherished traditions while also embracing positive change and exciting new opportunities.

In our next period of organizational growth, we’re seeking to enhance the BSO concert experience and broaden the reach of our amazing orchestra. We have made an adjustment to our upcoming 2022-23 season by consolidating a select number of Meyerhoff concerts with two primary goals in mind:

· Maximizing attendance for all concerts for the benefit of the audience and orchestra

· Creating room in the schedule for new concerts and partnerships at the Meyerhoff and throughout the region.

Thanks to patrons like you, we are culturally and financially stronger today than we have been in many years. This enables us to make changes that will help us move closer toward our ambitious goals.

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Conductor Change for June 9-12 Concerts, Welcoming Nicholas Hersh

June 9, 2022

Nicholas Hersh will conduct the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra concerts June 9-12. Hersh returns to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra after an outstanding tenure as the Orchestra’s Associate Conductor from 2014-2021.

Hersh steps in for conductor Sir Andrew Davis, who is unable to perform this week due to a positive COVID-19 PCR test result. Hersh will lead the Orchestra in a performance of Brahms’ First Symphony, as well as Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with Anne-Sophie Mutter.

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2021 Grammy-Winner Ledisi to Headline Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Gala in Tribute to Nina Simone

June 7, 2022

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) today announced Grammy-winning soul and jazz vocalist Ledisi as the headlining guest artist for the Season Opening Gala Celebration on September 17, 2022. Led by conductor Jack Everly, the program features Ledisi’s unique take on the music of legendary singer, songwriter, and activist Nina Simone.

The 2022 Gala kicks off the BSO’s 2022-23 Season and marks the first in-person Gala in four years. New this year, all concert ticket holders are also invited to join the post-concert Gala party. Guests will enjoy access to complimentary beverages, desserts, cash bar, and dancing following the concert. Guests will also have a first look at a unique exhibition celebrating the 40^th anniversary of the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

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Mayor Scott Announces Return Of 4th Of July Celebration With New Partnerships And Fireworks

May 27, 2022

Mayor Brandon M. Scott announces the return of festivities and fireworks to the Inner Harbor on Monday, July 4, 2022, from 4:00–10:00 p.m. “I am genuinely excited to announce that our 4th of July celebration, including fireworks, will be back and bigger than ever for Summer 2022,” says Mayor Scott. This multifaceted event is produced by a tremendous partnership of prominent Baltimore organizations coming together under Mayor Scott’s leadership to give Baltimore something beautiful to celebrate.

The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA), Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO), and Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore (WPB) are collaborating on the evening’s programming to create a truly special event for the Baltimore community, the people of Maryland, and visiting guests. Also participating in the day’s festivities is a host of renowned Baltimore institutions including the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (DPOB), Baltimore Orioles, American Visionary Arts Museum (AVAM), National Aquarium in Baltimore, and media partner WJZ.

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Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Announces Summer Concert Lineup

April 27, 2022

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) today announced the details of its summer schedule. The lineup includes the launch of the Music for Maryland Tour, in which the Orchestra performs in all Maryland jurisdictions over the next three summers, and a series of Star-Spangled Celebrations beginning with a return to Oregon Ridge Park.

In the first year of the Music for Maryland Tour, the BSO will travel to six counties: Carroll, Calvert, Kent, Howard, Garrett, and Prince George’s counties. Showcasing the Orchestra as one owned by the entire State of Maryland, performances are curated to celebrate each county’s hometown pride. Led by Assistant Conductor Jonathan Rush, concert themes span from train-inspired music – with John W. Garrett (of Garrett County) having served as the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad President – to the University of Maryland’s Terps’ Fight Song in Prince George’s County. A multi-year initiative grounded in partnerships, the BSO is also approaching the Music for Maryland Tour as a means to engage in mini-residencies across Maryland. The BSO will share a free program featuring BSO musicians and narrators curated explicitly for young listeners and families in each tour jurisdiction.

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The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Names Mark C. Hanson as New President and CEO

April 5, 2022

Following a rigorous national search, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) today announced the appointment of industry veteran Mark C. Hanson as the orchestra's new president and chief executive officer effective April 21.

Hanson brings more than 20 years of demonstrated success as a collaborative, imaginative, and focused leader who has driven organizational change in the orchestral world. As a CEO, he successfully led the San Francisco, Houston, and Milwaukee symphony orchestras through economic transformations, artistic leadership transitions, and internal culture building. In each market, Hanson continually found new and innovative ways to develop financial growth plans, drive unique and diverse artistic programming, and effectively bring together staff, musicians, and board members to create cohesive teams working toward common goals.

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Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Relocates or Cancels Programs Scheduled at The Music Center at Strathmore for Remainder of 2021

Labor negotiations between Strathmore and IATSE Local 868, the union that represents Strathmore’s Ticket Office employees, remain unresolved. Strathmore continues to insist the BSO sign a license agreement that would codify the use of replacement workers, which is in conflict with our union agreements. Such a requirement remains an ethically and legally impossible ask for the BSO.

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Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Moves October 23 Concert from Strathmore to Baltimore Amid Strathmore’s Ongoing Labor Dispute

The BSO is excited to share the experience of our extraordinary Orchestra and our Season of Discovery with patrons in the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and in our second home at The Music Center at Strathmore, where we are a Founding and Resident Partner.

As we previously shared, Strathmore has been engaged in labor negotiations with IATSE Local 868, the union that represents Strathmore’s Ticket Office employees.

After helping to steer Strathmore and IATSE Local 868 towards mediation, we understand that the two parties have not yet reached an agreement and need more time to see this process through. The resolution of this underlying labor dispute remains the first step towards the BSO’s return to our beloved second home.

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BSO Announces Additional Schedule Changes Due to Unresolved Strathmore Labor Negotiations

September 24, 2021

BSO Announces Additional Schedule Changes Due to Unresolved Strathmore Labor Negotiations

Dear Friends,

The BSO remains excited to return to The Music Center at Strathmore and to share the experience of our extraordinary Orchestra in our second home.

As of September 24, Strathmore’s labor negotiations with IATSE Local 868, the union that represents Strathmore’s Ticket Office employees, remain unresolved. We have also been unable to reach consensus with Strathmore on our annual licensing agreement – an agreement that sets the financial and legal terms of our 2021-22 season concerts at The Music Center.

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Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Important Changes to our Fall Concert Schedule

September 15, 2021

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Important Changes to our Fall Concert Schedule

The BSO is excited to share the experience of our extraordinary Orchestra and our Season of Discovery with patrons in the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and in our second home at The Music Center at Strathmore, where we are a Founding and Resident Partner.

Our partners at Strathmore has been engaged in labor negotiations with IAFM Local 868, the union that represents Strathmore’s Ticket Office employees. The parties, however, have not reached agreement. Against the backdrop of these negotiations, the BSO has also been unable to reach consensus with Strathmore on our annual licensing agreement – an agreement that sets the financial and legal terms of our 2021-22 season concerts at The Music Center.

 

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Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Announces Two Free September Concerts for Student and Family Audiences

September 2, 2021

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Announces Two Free September Concerts for Student and Family Audiences

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) has added two free concerts for younger audiences. Performances include a Free College Kickoff, exclusively for college students on September 17 at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, and Peter and the Wolf with the BSO and Wordsmith, an outdoor concert for families co-presented by the BSO and the Inner Arbor Trust at the Chrysalis in Howard County on September 18.

 

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From Board Chair Barry Rosen: President & CEO Update

August 18, 2021

Dear Friends:

After leading a highly successful turnaround of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, President and CEO Peter Kjome asked the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Board of Directors in April to launch a national search for his successor. When Peter made his decision not to seek a renewal of his contract, he also reaffirmed his commitment to a successful transition, offering to serve in a consultancy role as the search progressed.

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Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Receives $1.5M from the State to Continue its Turnaround

July 20, 2021

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) announced today the receipt of $1.5M from the State of Maryland, the first year of a multi-year bridge of support appropriated to the Orchestra through the legislative actions of the Maryland General Assembly in 2020 and 2021.

Guided by the recommendations of the 2019 State Workgroup on the BSO, chaired by former Senator Ed Kasemeyer, SB1065/HB1658 outlined five-years of decreasing support: FY2022 $1.5M; FY2023 $1.3M; FY2024 $1.1M; FY2025 $0.9M; and FY2026 $0.7M. While enacted into law during Session 2021, Governor Hogan held total authority over the awarding of year one funding (FY2022).

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Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Announces Free Summer Concert Series Kicking Off on July 4th with Patriotic Broadcast on WMAR TV-2

June 16, 2021

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) kicks off a month of free summer concerts on July 4 with the BSO’s 4^th of July special, a 30-minute musical televised performance in partnership with WMAR TV-2 followed by a series of free in-person concerts starting July 8 and running through July 30.

The BSO’s 4^th of July Special airs at 6:30 pm on WMAR TV-2, featuring a program of patriotic favorites including “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Ives’ Variations on “America,” and Gershwin’s An American in Paris.

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Message from BSO President and CEO Peter T. Kjome

April 26, 2021

Dear Friends:

Thank you for your support of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. I am writing to share with you that following the remarkable progress we have made as an organization, I will not be seeking the renewal of my contract that concludes in January 2022.

When I joined the BSO family in early 2017, the BSO was widely renowned for its artistic excellence and innovation, doing important work in the community to nurture bright futures for youth, and beloved by a loyal family of patrons and supporters. With that said, we were also facing significant challenges. Over the past four years, we have come together in extraordinary ways to chart the course for the future and move forward in an inspirational turnaround with confidence.

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Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Announces 2021-22 Season

April 6, 2021

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) today announces its 2021-22 Season: A Season of Discovery, marking a return to performances for live audiences at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and The Music Center at Strathmore. With eight commissions and three world premieres, the season presents well-known works in new contexts while lifting the work of diverse artists and composers and the stories of repressed voices in our history. Alongside collaborations with notable soloists and 14 local partners, audiences will also be introduced to numerous guest conductors as the BSO officially embarks on an international, multi-year Music Director search.

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A Message of Support and an Update from President & CEO Peter T. Kjome

March 19, 2021

Across the nation, Asian-Americans & Pacific Islanders (AAPI) communities are experiencing an alarming number of acts of bias, bigotry, and hate. Recent terror attacks are, tragically, only the latest in this escalation, a disturbing trend that also includes under-reported incidents of verbal harassment and other forms of intimidation and violence that can take place anywhere.

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Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Honors Marin Alsop's Historic 14 Years as Music Director

March 2, 2021

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) announces a multi-faceted celebration in Marin Alsop's honor to commemorate her historic 14-year tenure as Music Director. Festivities kick off with the return of BSO Encore Powered by PNC on WBJC radio starting Sunday, March 7, and culminate with The Marin Festival, a multi-week event featuring virtual performances, outdoor community concerts, and a celebratory, virtual Gala concert featuring Renée Fleming from the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall on June 19 at 8:30 pm.

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News from Annapolis, BSO in Session 2021

February 25, 2021

Dear Friends,

On behalf of all of us at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, this is an update on progress that speaks to our shared resolve to keep great music in the lives of Marylanders.

The BSO has been on an extraordinary journey over the last year – a journey in which our elected leaders continue to play a vital role, and whereby there was important progress during February.

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A New Year's Message from the BSO President & CEO

January 19, 2021

It is with a spirit of gratitude that the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra begins the new year with extraordinarily positive momentum and strong resolve.

Leaders who have been involved with the BSO for decades have observed that this past year has been among the most significant in our history. This has been a very hard time for many, and we must and will continue to nurture and uplift hearts, minds, and spirits through great music at this critical moment.

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Our Commitment and Steps Taken to Foster Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the BSO

December 18, 2020

Dear Friends:

The members of the BSO family have made remarkable progress together. With the steadfast support of many people who care deeply about the BSO, that progress is continuing despite the pandemic.

As we maintain our shared commitment to the organizational transformation that is underway, we have also recommitted ourselves to the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) – knowing that the BSO, and the orchestral field at large, did not get to a place of racial and gender imbalance overnight, and that it will take time to realize change.

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Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Appoints James Conlon as Artistic Advisor

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Appoints James Conlon as Artistic Advisor

Three-Year Appointment Beginning September 2021 Will Ensure Continued Artistic Excellence as the Organization Embarks on an International Music Director Search

November 17, 2020 – The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) today announced the appointment of James Conlon, one of today’s most versatile and respected conductors, as Artistic Advisor. Conlon will begin his role in September 2021, following the conclusion of BSO Music Director Marin Alsop’s historic 14-year tenure.

 

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Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Announces New Digital Concert Series: BSO Sessions

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Extends BSO Sessions Releasing 27 New Documentary-Style Weekly Episodes

Balance of 2020-21 Season to be Approached with the Latest Public Health Guidelines in Mind – Includes Multi-Week Celebration of Music Director Marin Alsop

October 27, 2020 – The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) today announces the extension of BSO Sessions and a commitment to presenting 27 new weekly installments with episodes featuring powerful music and real stories throughout the 2020-21 season.

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Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Announces New Digital Concert Series: BSO Sessions

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Announces Strategic Expansion of Artistic Team

September 10, 2020

Dear Friends of the BSO,

A few weeks ago, we were thrilled to announce an extraordinary five-year agreement with our musicians. With this milestone behind us, we can turn our focus to the heart of our multi-year strategic plan – ensuring that the art and education we deliver are of the highest quality, engaging with our audience and donors, and serving our community in ways that are equally surprising and inspiring.

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Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Musicians Reach Five-Year Agreement

August 28, 2020

Dear Friends,

For the past year, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) has been on a journey.

Our work to create a strong and thriving BSO has been expansive and collaborative, involving community, state, and national thought leaders. It has not always been easy, but we have also realized new creative heights and points of alignment. Just as these tumultuous times have revealed the unmatched value of music to nurture and uplift hearts, minds and spirit, they have also reaffirmed that we were perhaps better poised to navigate the challenges of COVID-19 because of all that we have experienced together.

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Advocacy Alert: BSO $1.6M Appropriation on Board of Public Works Agenda

July 1, 2020

At the Wednesday, July 1 Board of Public Works (BPW) meeting, a proposal will be heard to cut the $1.6 million appropriation for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra from the State’s FY2021 budget (Fiscal Year beginning July 1). BSO President & CEO Peter Kjome will testify on behalf of the BSO Board of Directors, Musicians, and Staff, to respectfully reject this proposed elimination of the statutorily required appropriation.

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A Message from BSO President and CEO Peter Kjome

June 26, 2020

Dear Friends of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra,

It is with a spirit of gratitude that I write to share an update on our work. With your support, the pandemic that we are facing together has brought new urgency to our charge to innovate and collaborate. All of us look forward to the moment when the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra can safely return to the stage, and we will continue to keep you informed on our progress towards that goal in the weeks ahead.

As we maintain our commitment to the organizational transformation that began earlier this year, we also recommit ourselves to the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The BSO has stated unequivocally that it stands against racism and injustice. I share this message today following the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks, and so many others. These heartbreaking losses have devastated the lives of countless people and their families across the nation.

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May 2020 President's Letter

May 15, 2020

Dear Friends of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra,

We hope that you are well and miss seeing you during this time of social distancing. All of us look forward to the moment when the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra can return to the stage, and we will continue to share great music with you until then.

The pandemic that we are facing together may have changed our world, but it has not changed our resolve. At the BSO, it has brought new urgency to our charge to innovate, collaborate and respond quickly to our community’s need for the comfort and solace that only music can provide.

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The BSO at the BBC Proms: A Gala Celebration on MPT

April 16, 2020

A Message to our Baltimore Symphony Friends,

Though the Baltimore Symphony’s Gala Celebration and Concert featuring Itzhak Perlman cannot proceed due to social distancing measures – we are delighted to announce that, on the same evening, Maryland Public Television is presenting the U.S. broadcast premiere of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s debut performance at the BBC Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall, which took place in August 2018 during the BSO’s tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

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Workgroup on the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Report

March 4, 2020

Dear Friends of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra,

We are encouraged by the continued progress in creating a strong and thriving BSO. Community leaders are engaged, key stakeholders are engaged, state leaders are engaged, and national thought leaders are engaged as we pursue a compelling and achievable vision and model for the future.

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BSO Announcement Regarding Marin Alsop

February 26, 2020

Dear Friends of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra:

After fourteen extraordinary seasons as our Music Director, at the conclusion of her current contract in a year and a half on August 31, 2021, Marin Alsop will step down as Music Director. Beginning in September 2021, Marin will assume a new role with the BSO as Music Director Laureate and OrchKids Founder. Marin’s tenure as Music Director will represent one of the longest in the history of the BSO and one of the longest tenures of any Music Director in the nation.

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BSO Announces Five-Year Strategic Plan

February 11, 2020

Dear Friends of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra:

We are excited to announce the BSO’s five-year Strategic Plan, a transformative and sustainable plan for the future. The Plan is the result of deep analysis into performance and industry trends, as well as input from former Senator Ed Kasemeyer, Chairman of the State Workgroup on the BSO, and the advice of Michael Kaiser, the leading national consultant on cultural organization turn-arounds.

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Great news from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

January 14, 2020

Dear Friends of the BSO:

We are delighted to announce some great news!

As we recently shared with you, the Vision Committee, the State Workgroup and the strategic engagement of national thought leaders including TDC and most recently Michael Kaiser, are helping to shape the comprehensive, collaborative and forward-looking work underway.

Today, we are pleased to share that in the last month the BSO has secured $6 million in extraordinary operating gifts as well as a $1.25 million endowment gift as a bridge to a bright future. We are thrilled by this generous outpouring of support, and it is certainly an inspirational example of how members of our community are responding to our multi-year planning efforts.

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