BSO IN THE NEWS

Awards and Praise

GOLDEN CONVERSE

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Congratulations to Music Director Jonathon Heyward for being selected as one of TIME Magazines ' Next Generation Leaders !

Yaseen Jones

It was the start of the 2023-24 Season , the first with Music Director Jonathon Heyward at the helm , and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra was looking to start off on the right foot — literally .

Just ahead of Labor Day weekend , the BSO announced that seven pairs of golden Converse-style baby sneakers had been stashed at select institutions throughout Baltimore . It was time for a scavenger hunt . Inspired by Heyward ’ s favorite shoe brand ( he has earned the moniker of “ the Converse Conductor ”), whoever could # FindTheGoldenConverse would win a pair of tickets to the historic 2023 Gala Celebrations .

The announcement set social media abuzz , with several pairs found within mere minutes . Fans scoured the Reginald F . Lewis Museum , National Aquarium , The Maryland Zoo , Maryland Science Center , Baltimore Museum of Art , Walters Art Museum , and Patterson Park for a chance to seize their lucky chucks — a few of which had even been signed by Heyward himself .

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It was a raging success — and a telling prelude to the Gala celebrations that were to come . Moreover , it was inspired by a shoe that in many ways symbolizes Jonathon Heyward ’ s arrival at the BSO — an era that promises to bring contemporary freshness to beloved classics .

TARA RONZANSKI , PATTERSON PARK WINNER