BMW Championship Opening Drive Concert
Symphony in the City at The Reginald F. Lewis Museum
After concluding an historic, three-year Music for Maryland pledge to perform in every Maryland county with a standing-room-only January concert at Annapolis’ St. John’ s College, the BSO entered a new era of statewide touring in Summer 2025. Highlights included a special collaboration with the town of Perry Hall, Maryland to celebrate its 250th birthday and stops in Allegany, St. Mary’ s, and Kent Counties.
This spirit continued through our Symphony in the City series, with free concerts held at Morgan State University, the Baltimore City War Memorial Building, and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. A veteran engagement strategy in Montgomery County brought BSO musicians to the Walter Reed campus on four occasions. In collaboration with the University of Maryland School of Music, we worked with Sound Impact to engage newly resettled students and English-language learners in Prince George’ s County. Place-based programming also included beloved traditions, with a Star-Spangled Spectacular Celebration at Baltimore County’ s Oregon Ridge Park and an evening under the stars at Boordy Vineyards. Through the Ovation Series, we not only expressed appreciation to BSO subscribers and donors, but we also partnered with cultural venues to bring chamber music to unique spaces across the region. Highlights included collaborative events with the American Visionary Art Museum, the Baltimore Museum of Art, Cylburn Arboretum, and Round House Theatre.
Thanks to the power of partnership, we were able to center symphonic music at major civic celebrations. Equally prideful, the BSO performed the Star-Spangled Banner for our hometown teams at Camden Yards and M & T Bank Stadium, and BSO OrchKids helped light the Mount Vernon Monument.
BMW Championship Opening Drive Concert
In August 2025, the BSO shared a special concert billing with the Jonas Brothers at Caves Valley Golf Club. An event generously underwritten by The Judi and Steven B. Fader Family Foundation, guest conductor and longtime friend Enrico Lopez-Yañez led the ensemble in a specially curated sports-themed program perfectly suited to the setting and occasion.
Hosting the BMW Championship was great for Baltimore and great for Maryland. For the 2025 tournament, we wanted to shine a national spotlight on a special asset of our community— the Baltimore Symphony. Our family was proud to help open the event with a free concert for PGA leaders, sponsors, club members, and our local neighbors, and the BSO’ s performance was a special highlight of the weekend.
Steven Fader, Chair, Caves Valley Golf Club; CEO, MileOne Automotive Group
Symphony in the City at The Reginald F. Lewis Museum
Symphony in the City brought the BSO to the Reginald F. Lewis Museum for a free concert to celebrate the Museum’ s 20th anniversary. Guest conductor Na’ Zir McFadden led the program featuring newly commissioned works about Lewis’ life and legacy by spoken word artist and longtime BSO collaborator Wordsmith, and BSO musicians were given one of the first tours of the new Titan exhibit.
Symphony in the City brings music into the heart of our neighborhoods. At BGE, we support this series because it reflects our belief that every community deserves access to the arts— and that income should never be a barrier to connection, celebration, or belonging. By partnering with churches, schools, museums, and other community anchors, we lift up the voices and stories that make Baltimore so vibrant.
Tamla Oliver, President & CEO, BGE 2024-25 YEAR IN REVIEW 13