Getting Here

Parking

As a reminder parking is no longer available at the Cathedral Street Garage. We encourage all BSO patrons to park at the Symphony Center Garage which is conveniently located across the street from the Meyerhoff at 1030 Park Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201.

$15 day-of event parking is available to purchase upon arrival to the Symphony Center Garage.
Discounted parking remains available when purchased in advance through BSOmusic.org or our Patron Support team.

The University of Baltimore is also now offering $15 pre-paid parking available for BSO patrons at the Maryland Avenue Garage (1120 Maryland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201) which is located across the street from the Meyerhoff. If you'd like to purchase parking to guarantee your parking space, click here.

Additional Parking Options (and Walking Time Estimates)

The Fitzgerald, 80 W. Oliver Street, Baltimore, MD (7 mins)
MICA Mt Royal Station, 1400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD (4 mins).
Metered street parking at your discretion

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Patron Support office at 410.783.8000.

Public Transportation

Freedomcar
The BSO is now partnering with FreedomCar to provide shuttle service to most BSO weekend concerts from the Greenspring Station Park and Ride and the Village of Cross Keys.
The Best way to make a reservation is to call FreedomCar (410-321-5600) or visit https://freedomcar.net/make-a-reservation/step/get-rolling and mention in “notes” their trip is for BSO.

By Charm City Circulator
The Charm City Circulator is a free shuttle that travels three routes in Baltimore City. The separate routes include the Green Route(City Hall to Fells Point to Johns Hopkins), the Purple Route(Penn Station to Federal Hill), and the Orange Route(Hollins Market to Harbor East). The shuttle is intended to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas pollution by offering a convenient, reliable and eco - friendly form of public transportation.

By Bus
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall is easily accessible from local routes 51, 53, Citylink Green Citylink Lime and Citylink Yellow.

Amtrak
For visitors from the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak is a great way to visit The Meyerhoff. Baltimore's Penn Station is a short walk or taxi ride from The Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and there are lots of dining options nearby.

After exiting the train, follow the signs in the station to Charles Street and walk south. Make a right onto Preston Street, the first street past the light at Mt. Royal Avenue. Follow Preston Street three blocks to Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, on the corner of Preston and Cathedral Streets.

For fares, schedules, maps and other transit information, please visit http: //www.amtrak.com/baltimore

By Light Rail
Exit the Light Rail at the Cultural Center stop. The hall is directly across Park Avenue to the south. Light Rail hours are Monday - Friday 6: 00 am to 12: 00 am; Saturday 11: 00 am to 12: 00 am; and Sunday 11: 00 am to 7: 00 pm.

By Metro Subway
Exit the subway at State Center Station. Walk one block east on Preston Street to Howard Street. Make a left on Howard then turn right on Dolphin heading east. Meyerhoff is on the right. Metro hours are Monday– Friday: 5 am to midnight; Saturday, Sunday & amp; Holidays: 6 am to midnight.

By MARC Train
For MARC riders, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall is just a short walk or cab ride from Baltimore Penn Station. After exiting the train, follow the signs in the station to Charles Street and walk south. Make a right onto Preston Street, the first street past the light at Mt. Royal Avenue. Follow Preston Street three blocks to Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, on the corner of Preston and Cathedral Streets.

For fares, schedules, maps and other transit information, please visit http: //www.mtamaryland.com or call 410.539.5000.

Ticket Information

Buy Tickets Now

Click here for our service fee and exchange policies.

Order in Person:

Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
1212 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

The ticket window is open for walk-up sales Tuesday-Friday 10 am-5 pm and Saturday 12 pm-5 pm. The window is closed on Sunday and Monday, except during concerts.

The ticket office is open 60 minutes prior to each performance for walkup sales and through intermission.

Patron Support Office Parking: Free short-term parking is available in the Meyerhoff driveway at the Patron Support Office entrance for purchasing tickets

For individual ticket holders:
Individual tickets can be exchanged within the same concert season for a processing fee of $5 per ticket. Individual ticket exchanges can be done online, by phone, fax, mail and in person at the Meyerhoff and Strathmore Ticket Offices. Exchanges into premium concerts, seating sections and pricing cannot be guaranteed and are subject to availability and additional fees. The BSO reserves the right to define a concert as premium based on demand. Some exclusions apply for group, student and special event sales.

Exchanging online:

Visit BSOmusic.org/exchange and login to your BSO account.

Exchanging in person:

The ticket window is open for exchanges Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 12pm-5pm. The window is closed on Sunday and Monday, except during concerts.

Exchanging by Mail:
There is no fee for exchanging your tickets by mail. Please send your tickets to the address below and include your name, daytime phone number, three alternate dates for a performance and payment by check. Mail to:

BSO Patron Support
1212 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Exchanging by Fax:
Fax number: 410.783.8131. There is no fee for exchanging your tickets by fax. Include in the fax your name, daytime phone number, three alternate dates for a performance and payment by credit card.

Exchanging by Phone:
Please call the Ticket Office at 410.783.8000 during its hours of operation.

FOR ORCHESTRA AND GRAND TIER PATRONS: We are pleased to offer a new permanent hearing loop system for patrons with hearing loss. To take advantage of this system, patrons who have a telecoil in their hearing aid or cochlear implant may switch to the ”T” setting.

We are deeply grateful to The Harvey M. Meyerhoff Fund for their leadership gift which has made this hearing loop system possible. In addition, we thank several other patrons for their support.

Explore The Area

Baltimore is one of the most influential cities in America. It is the home of the Ravens, the Orioles, crab cakes and, of course, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

With such a rich and diverse history, it's no wonder that the place nicknamed ”Charm City” gets so many visitors each year.

In addition to your concert, here are a few other things you can do during your visit to Baltimore:

American Visionary Art Museum
The American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) is located in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore. It has 55,000 square feet of exhibit space and a permanent collection of 4,000 pieces, including works by visionary artists Ho Baron, Nek Chand, Ted Gordon, Clyde Jones, Leo Sewell, Vollis Simpson and Ben Wilson. It also includes over 40 pieces of work from the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre of London.

B&O Railroad Museum
Located among Baltimore City's historic southwest neighborhoods, at the original site of the historic Mt. Clare Shops, the B&O Railroad Museum is recognized universally as the birthplace of American railroading. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum possesses the oldest, most historic and most comprehensive American railroad collections in the world. The Museum's roster of locomotives and rolling stock represent the first, last, best or only of their kind in existence today.

Baltimore Museum of Art
Art has always had a strong hold on the city. The Baltimore Museum of Art houses work by some of the world's most honored artists, including Picasso, van Gogh and Renoir. With nearly 100,000 works, the museum promises to please art lovers of any age, skill or taste. It is couched between Charles Village and Remington, two northern Baltimore neighborhoods.

Baltimore Museum of Industry
The Baltimore Museum of Industry, located in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, is home to over 100,000 objects that document the often overlooked people in history-the workers, small business people and citizens who built America. The collections are reminders of Baltimore's great history, explaining how the city developed from a small trading post to a thriving, industrial center of manufacturing and commerce in a few decades.

Camden Yards
Perhaps nothing is more revered in Baltimore than its baseball team, the Orioles. The team is more than 100 years old, and is one of the eight original charter franchises in the American League. Camden Yards, one of the “new old stadiums,” is located just a few blocks from downtown Baltimore, giving it easy access to visitors and residents alike.

Fort McHenry National Monument
One of the world's most popular pieces of music was created at this location. In 1814, Francis Scott Key, a professional lawyer and amateur poet, wrote what would become some of the most recognizable lyrics in the history of music: The Star-Spangled Banner. Today's wannabe tunesmiths can walk the grounds, summoning up the spirits of those who laid down more than just their quills.

Harborplace Amphitheater
This open-air venue plays host to jazz, funk and blues festivals, songwriting recitals by professional and upstart musicians, and performance art from magicians and dancers. As great as the acts are that step on stage, the price tag – free – is even more impressive.

Maryland Science Center
The Maryland Science Center, located in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, features three levels of exhibits, a planetarium, an observatory and an IMAX theater.

National Aquarium
The National Aquarium, with over 1 million visitors a year, proves Baltimore is one of the great port towns of the world. This waterlife zoo is home to over 16,000 specimens, such as the bottlenose dolphin, roughtail stingray and bonnethead shark.

Port Discovery
Ranked among the top five children's museums in the United States, Port Discovery Children's Museum offers three floors of interactive, educational exhibits and ever-changing programs for children ages birth through 10.

Reginald F. Lewis Museum
A major Inner Harbor attraction, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum is the largest African American museum on the East Coast. It highlights the history and accomplishments of Maryland's African American community, featuring exhibitions and resource centers.

Top of the World Observation Level
Top of the World is the perfect starting point for any visit to the city and provides a breathtaking view of Baltimore 's skyline, harbor and beyond. Located on the 27 th floor of the World Trade Center, this city attraction featuring a 360-degree panoramic view of Baltimore has stationed binoculars and photo-map guides to help guests learn about local attractions, hotels and neighborhoods.

Walters Art Museum
The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland is internationally renowned for its collection of art. The collection presents an overview of world art from pre-dynastic Egypt to 20th-century Europe, and counts among its many treasures Greek sculpture and Roman sarcophagi; medieval ivories and Old Master paintings; Art Nouveau jewelry and 19th-century European and American masterpieces.

Beginner's Guide

What should I wear? We’ll start off by saying, you can wear anything (almost) that you like when you come to a symphony concert. For those who enjoy getting spiffed up, a symphony concert is a great occasion to feel a bit fancy. However, if you feel more comfortable on the casual side, you won’t feel out of place. Most concert-goers dress in a range from business casual to cocktail attire. Formal dress such as evening gowns and tuxedos are generally only worn to special events like our annual Gala concert.
What is classical music? For general purposes, classical music is typically used to describe art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western music, including both liturgical (religious) and secular music from roughly the 11th century to the present day. Sub-categories of classical music include the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern eras. The term ‘classical music’ actually did not appear until the early 19^th century.
How early should I arrive? Doors to the lobby of the Meyerhoff generally open 75 minutes prior to the concert start time. Doors to the lobby of Strathmore generally open one hour prior to the concert start time. You can arrive early and enjoy a drink or small bite to eat, and relax in our lobby prior to the show. Or, you can also head to one of many exciting restaurants, cafes or bars in the area. We recommend arriving no later than 20 minutes before a show start time to ensure getting to your seat before the downbeat. Once the first piece begins, you will need to wait until a break to be let in so we recommend not cutting it too close!
What if I arrive late? In order not to disturb other audience members who have already begun listening to the music, late seating breaks will take place after the first piece on the program or at intermission. If you arrive after the concert begins, you will be asked to wait outside of the hall doors in the lobby until a break in the program occurs.
Can I use my cell phone? For the consideration of the musicians and your fellow audience members, please turn off your phone or other mobile devices during the performance. With all of modern life’s constant exposure to media and technology, think of this as a fun opportunity to shut off your phone for an hour at a time and live in the moment. Photography and video are not allowed during a performance, but taking pictures before and after the performance is strongly encouraged!
Can I bring my drink to my seat? We highly encourage early arrival to ensure you are able to take your seat to enjoy the full concert. Another perk to arriving early is beginning your concert experience with our refreshments. And, yes, you may take your drink and other snacks to your seat!
Do I need to know any information about the music or composers before coming? You do not need to know any background information on the performers, composers or pieces ahead of time. Once you arrive, you will be given a program which gives notes on the elements of the concert. That being said, many people find that they are able to enjoy a performance in a deeper way with greater background knowledge on the program. If you would like to know more about a piece before attending a concert, you can check out the program notes in the current issue of Overture Magazine.
When should I clap? This can be a bit of a tricky question. On the one hand, we want to encourage everyone to show their enjoyment and appreciation whenever the moment strikes. On the other hand, there are certain pieces of music that are meant to be uninterrupted to display the nuance and full-effect of the music.
It is traditional to hold applause until the end of each piece on the program. This can be a bit confusing, because some pieces contain several smaller sections, called movements, which often have a pause between them, sometimes sounding like the end of the piece. Our advice is, if you are not sure when to clap, look around to your fellow audience members and follow the crowd to avoid any awkward applause moments.
How long is the concert? Traditional performances last around 2 hours including a 20 minute intermission about halfway through.
What is a concertmaster? In an orchestra, the concertmaster is the leader of the first violin section. There are other section leaders within the various string sections, but they are all lead by the concertmaster. Any violin solo in an orchestral work is played by the concertmaster (except in the case of a concerto, in which case a guest soloist usually plays). The concertmaster sits to the conductor’s left, closest to the audience, in what is called the ”first chair” or ”first stand.” He or she makes decisions regarding bowing and other technical details of violin playing for the violins, and sometimes all of the string players. The concertmaster leads the orchestra in tuning before concerts and rehearsals.
What is the role of the conductor? In the words of Marin Alsop: 'I think that maybe people don’t really understand the role of the conductor. What does a conductor really do? It’s a little bit like being a director. What I do is study the creator’s words or the composer’s notes and I try to become the voice of the creator. Then I bring his or her work to life through the musicians. The analogy is sort of like actors bringing words to life. That’s really the basic role of the conductor: to be the messenger and the advocate for the composer, and to try to get that narrative across to the audience. 'The goal for me is to always try to inspire and encourage people, and create the environment for musicians to be the best they can be. So it’s sort of like part coach, part captain. A lot of it is of course technical, because I’m speaking to them through gesture. But it’s a far more complex role than most people would just see by sitting there watching someone move their arms.'
How is the orchestra set-up?