The BSO at a Glance

The Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is internationally recognized as having achieved a preeminent place among the world's most important orchestras. Acclaimed for its enduring pursuit of artistic excellence, the BSO has attracted a devoted national and international following while maintaining deep bonds throughout through innovative education and community outreach initiatives. The BSO made musical history in September 2007, when Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestra’s 12th music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra. With her highly praised artistic vision, her dynamic musicianship and her commitment to accessibility in classical music, Maestra Alsop’s directorship has ushered in a new era for the BSO and its audiences.

Year Established: 1916, as a branch of the Baltimore municipal government; reorganized as a private institution in 1942. Mission: To make music of the highest quality and to enhance Baltimore and Maryland as a cultural center of interest, vitality and importance.

Music Director: Marin Alsop Chairman of the Board: Barbara M. Bozzuto Music Director Emeritus: Yuri Temirkanov President and CEO: Paul Meecham Principal Pops Conductor: Jack Everly Musicians: 83 Assistant Conductor: Nicholas Hersh Administrative Staff: 72 Full-Time and 34 Part-Time Associate Conductor for Education and Board Members: 44 BSYO Artistic Director: Ken Lam Operating budget: $27 million BSO-Peabody Conducting Fellow: Michael Repper Annual attendance: 350,000+ Concertmaster: Jonathan Carney

BSO concerts in 2015-2016: 184+, including classical, Off the Cuff, SuperPops and Family Series concerts, Music Box concerts, as well as run-out performances and summer programming.

Recordings: The Grammy Award-winning BSO has achieved critical success for its prolific discography. Since becoming Music Director, Marin Alsop has made a number of recordings with the BSO, including Bernstein’s Mass, released in 2009 on the Naxos label. Nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Classical Album category, the critically-acclaimed album rose to #6 on the Classical Billboard Charts. Between 2007 and 2009, Maestra Alsop and the BSO recorded a three-disc Dvořák cycle of Symphonies Nos. 6 through 9 on Naxos. In 2010, the BSO under Alsop was joined by pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet for a Decca recording of works by Gershwin including Rhapsody in Blue and his Piano Concerto. In 2012, recordings of Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra coupled with Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan,” were released on Naxos.

Education and Outreach: The BSO boasts a full complement of educational programs for all ages. For the very young, the BSO offers Music Box Series—an interactive musical experience for children ages six months to three years. For youth, we offer a Midweek Education Concert series (daytime educational concerts for area schoolchildren throughout Maryland), BSO’s Family Concert series (specially designed concerts for families), BSO on the Go and OrchLab (which bring BSO musicians into Montgomery County elementary, middle and high schools for free, interactive music education workshops), annual Side-by-Side concerts (which give aspiring musicians an opportunity to perform and study with professional musicians), OrchKids™ (the BSO’s award-winning during- and after-school music education and life- enrichment initiative, designed to create social change within Baltimore City communities), Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras (three orchestral ensembles for elementary through high school musicians), Open Rehearsals (middle and high school students attend a BSO rehearsal), and Musical Mentors (invites groups to attend a BSO concert, supplemented with a workshop given by an Orchestra member). Adults can participate in The BSO Academy and Rusty Musicians, which provide amateur adult musicians the chance to rehearse and perform with the BSO, and continuing education opportunities such as pre-concert lectures at , Road Scholar and OSHER programs.

Key Leadership: Marin Alsop, Music Director – Marin Alsop is an inspiring and powerful voice in the international music scene, a music director of vision and distinction who passionately believes that “music has the power to change lives.” She is recognized around the world for her innovative approach to programming and for her deep commitment to education and to serving audiences of all ages.

Marin Alsop is the 12th music director of the BSO. With her inaugural concerts in September 2007, she became the first woman to head a major American orchestra. Marin Alsop’s success has garnered national and international attention for her innovative programming and artistry. Her success was recognized when, in 2013, her tenure was extended to the 2020-2021 season.

Alsop took up the post of principal conductor of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra in 2012, and became music director there in July 2013. There, she steers the orchestra in its artistic and creative programming, recording ventures and its education and outreach activities. She also holds the title of conductor emeritus at the Bournemouth Symphony in the United Kingdom, where she served as the principal conductor from 2002-2008.

In the summer of 2014, Maestra Alsop served her 23rd season as music director of the acclaimed Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in California. In September 2013, she made history as the first female conductor of the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms in London. When Musical America named Maestra Alsop the 2009 Conductor of the Year, they commented, “[Marin Alsop] connects to the public as few conductors today can.”

Paul Meecham, President & CEO— Paul Meecham joined the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as President and CEO in October 2006. A musician by training, he has occupied leadership positions in the classical music industry during the last 25 years in London, San Francisco, New York and Seattle. In partnership with Music Director Marin Alsop, he has led the BSO in pursuing innovative strategies to redefine the role of the American orchestra in the 21st century, combining an entrepreneurial spirit with fiscal responsibility. New initiatives have increased the BSO’s relevance within the community, including the ground-breaking inner-city schools program OrchKids, adult amateur participation programs including “Rusty Musicians” and the BSO Academy, and a commitment to affordable ticket pricing based on a highly successful $25 subscription pricing model during Maestra Alsop’s inaugural season that has increased access and attendance. During his tenure, the BSO has been a regular presence at Carnegie Hall, resumed touring in the 2011-2012 season with a West Coast tour, and has issued several commercial recordings to acclaim. In the current season, Mr. Meecham has played a pivotal role in the planning of the region-wide events scheduled to celebrate the BSO’s Centennial in 2016.

Barbara Bozzuto, Board Chair--Barbara Bozzuto was elected chair of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Board of Directors in September 2014. She has been active as an executive and community leader within the greater Baltimore region for 30 years. Among her many philanthropic activities, she is past chair of the Board of St. Agnes Hospital, and chaired the boards of WYPR Radio and Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. For 10 years until 2000, Barbara was president of Bozzuto-Lowenstein Marketing, aspecial events, sponsorship and sports marketing company producing large public events and nationally televised U.S. Olympic sports. Prior to that, she was the executive director for the Maryland Sports Corporation, director of the Baltimore Office of Promotion, executive director of Baltimore Operation Sail and public relations director of the , Inc. Ms. Bozzuto’s professional awards include Baltimore Magazine Top Businesswomen of the Year, Maryland’s Top 100 Women and the Caritas Award from St. Agnes Hospital. She was the 2013 recipient of the AFP Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year. Her other volunteer activities have involved Kennedy Krieger Institute, Maryland Science Center, Gilman School Centennial Celebration, USS Constellation 150th Anniversary, Baltimore Opera Company’s 50th Anniversary Chair, Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle charter member, Boys Hope Girls Hope and the Baltimore Choral Arts Society.

Volunteers: The 400+ members of the Baltimore Symphony Associates (BSA) use their time, energy and financial support to benefit the education programs of the BSO. Among the BSA’s annual fundraising activities are the Symphony Store, Symphony Homes for the Holidays and the Symphony Decorators’ Show House.

Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall | Opening: September 16, 1982 – BSO with Sergiu Comissiona (conductor) and Leon Fleisher (piano) | Capacity: 2,443 The Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall has been the home of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra since its opening in 1982. Ground was broken for the hall in November 1978 in order to provide the BSO with a top-notch concert hall befitting of a world-class orchestra. The building was made possible through the financial and administrative support of the late Joseph Meyerhoff.

The Music Center at Strathmore | Opening: February 5, 2005 – Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with Yuri Temirkanov (conductor), Yo-Yo Ma (cello) and Janice Chandler-Eteme (soprano) | Capacity: 1,976 With the opening of The Music Center at Strathmore in February 2005, the Baltimore Symphony became the nation’s first orchestra with year-round venues in two metropolitan areas.

Administrative Offices Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall | 1212 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, Md. 21201 The Music Center at Strathmore | 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md. 20850 Phone: 410.783.8100 (Administrative Offices) | 410.783.8000 or 877.BSO.1444 (Ticket Office)