Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Embracing the rich diversity of African-American vocal traditions, the Baltimore Symphony orchestra is acclaimed for its uncompromising pursuit of artistic excellence. It is the only major American orchestra originally established as a branch of the municipal government.

Offering innovative education and community outreach initiatives, the BSO is internationally recognized to have a preeminent place among the worlds most important orchestras.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra also holds the distinction of having been the first American Orchestra to have toured the Soviet Union in 11 years after cultural relations were resumed at the end of the Afghanistan war.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has attracted a devoted national and international following while maintaining deep bonds throughout Maryland. The BSO was founded in 1919 and in 1945, it was the only reorganized as a private institution. The BSOs leadership currently enlists Michael Bronfein as Board Chairman and Paul Meecham as President & CEO.

On the Symphony Orchestra conductor roster are Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, characterized distinctly for his creative pops programming, and BSO Music Director Emeritus Yuri Temirkanov. Temirkanov led the BSO from 1999 to 2006 and is regarded as one of the most talented conductors of his generation.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestras modern history dates from 1965, when Baltimore arts patron Joseph Meyerhoff became president of the symphony orchestra. He hired Romanian-born conductor Sergiu Comissiona as music director. Meyerhoff remained president of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for 18 years.

Together, the visionary philanthropist and the charismatic conductor ensured the creation of an artistic institution, making it the undisputed leader of the arts community throughout the State of Maryland. In 1985, the Orchestras reputation for musical excellence and high artistic achievement spread far beyond the shores of the Chesapeake when David Zinman was appointed as music director.

David Zinman took the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to a new and devoted international audience. Under his leadership, the BSO conducted a critically acclaimed concert tour of Europe and the Soviet Union. In 1994, they set out on a tour to East Asia for the first time.

This tour is described as the hit of Tokyos star-filled concert season while the newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun proclaimed the BSO as the best of all the overseas orchestras. That same year also saw them performing in Japan in a field that included the Berlin, Vienna and New York philharmonics. With legendary violinist Isaac Stern as soloist, the ensemble scheduled their second visit to Japan in the fall of 1997.

In 2001, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra set out on a European Tour which was led by Yuri Temirkanov. It was a subsequent tour to Japan in 2002 and, to Europe in 2005. Also, accompanied the Orchestra was a 20-member trade delegation led by Maryland Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

The main purpose of that delegation was to enhance exchange opportunities in the areas of business and economic development, higher education and trade. Not before in 2007 that the BSO made musical history when Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestras 12th music director.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestras 12the music director, Maestra Marin Alsop, was the first woman to head a major American orchestra. Maestra Alsops directorship ushered in a new era for the BSO and its audiences with her highly praised artistic vision, dynamic musicianship and commitment to accessibility in classical music.

The Grammy Award-winning BSO has achieved critical success for its prolific discography on such major labels as Argo/London, Telarc and Sony Classical. To-date the BSO has performed with such renowned artists as cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Hel?ne Grimaud, and violinists Joshua Bell and Hilary Hahn.

In 2004, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra forged a joint venture with one of the nations only African-American orchestras, the Soulful Symphony. The Soulful Symphony is an exploration of diverse musical expressions: classical, jazz, gospel and popular forms capturing a universal language that gives all cultures common ground.

The BSO also maintains close relationships with the governments and communities of Baltimore and surrounding counties, as well as with the state of Maryland. Within the classical field, the Orchestra has partnered with the Peabody Institute and the League of American Orchestras to sponsor the BSO-Peabody Conducting Fellowship.

In addition to producing concerts and music, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has maintained an educational presence throughout Maryland for more than 80 years.

The Orchestra offers programs supporting the local community through concerts, recordings, radio programs, as well as through its commitment to giving back with its education, outreach and mentorship programs.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra also serves adult music lovers through audience education programs. These programs include pre-concert lectures and post-concert discussions. In May 2008, the BSO launched a major education program, called OrchKids.