We kicked off the season and our “ Hall for All ” initiative with a Gala celebration featuring GRAMMY Awardwinning soul and jazz singer Ledisi and a “ Party for All ” celebrating the 40th anniversary of our Baltimore home , the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall .
The 2022-23 season continued to showcase established and emerging guest artists and conductors across 21 classical weeks , offered in-person and virtually with beloved names bookending the season . In October , Artistic Advisor James Conlon led Bernstein ’ s Symphony No . 3 , “ Kaddish ” with the University of Maryland Concert Choir , Maryland State Boychoir , and a new text written by Holocaust survivor Samuel Pisar , narrated by a legacy family . In April , Maestra Marin Alsop returned in her third program as Music Director Laureate , a concert memorializing our late composer in residence Christopher Rouse . One of three Rachmaninoff Festival
subscription weeks , this visit also featured guest pianist Olga Kern and four BSO musicians performing on instruments and bows generously loaned from the Alsop private collection in the inaugural Ruth and Lamar Alsop Chamber Concert . The BSO ’ s Rachmaninoff Festival also brought the Orchestra to the National Cathedral for a special performance of The Bells with the Cathedral Choral Society .
The BSO ' s best-selling Fusion series returned with three performances featuring genreblending musical mashups : Tchaikovsky X . Drake , Beethoven X . Coldplay , and a special New Year ' s Eve presentation of From Beethoven to Beyoncé . Our signature pre-concert Lit Lobby was made successful thanks to partners at Hotel Revival and the Night Brunch .
Beyond the classics , the season featured our inaugural Lunar New Year concert ( returning as part of a threeconcert AAPI Festival in 2023-24 ) and our inaugural GospelFest , a two-day celebration highlighting the choirs of Morgan State and Howard Universities , as well as the world premiere of a new commission by Adolphus Hailstork . We also celebrated Jack Everly ’ s 17-year tenure as Principal Pops Conductor with programs featuring everything from Broadway to ballet to the Beatles .
New this year , our Summer with the Symphony represents an ambitious initiative to share symphonic music with Marylanders near and far , featuring the Orchestra and special events including the music of Whitney Houston , ABBA , and Pink Floyd ; the world premiere of Heroes : A Video Game Symphony ; and a program curated in partnership with Mindgrub and other leading technologists featuring original music produced for chamber ensembles using generative AI technology .
And not only did we close summer with a very special Donor Appreciation Concert with our Music Director Designate on the podium , but Jonathon Heyward also led two classical subscription weeks during the season that captured acclaim and applause from audiences and critics alike .
A beautiful
RELATIONSHIP
Fewer than one in four Orchestra seats are endowed . The BSO aspires that this experience be a reality for every musician .
With that in mind , we invite donors at the $ 25,000 + annual giving level to “ Sponsor a Musician ” for a season . In 2022-23 , 18 donors aligned their philanthropy with this program , and beautiful relationships bloomed over concerts , luncheons , and shared experiences .
A clarinetist herself , Sheila Meyers first connected with BSO musicians during the BSO Academy . She has since sponsored Vitor Trindade for the past two seasons , and will be sponsoring Principal
Clarinetist YaoGuang Zhai for the 2023-24 season .
It is a gift to connect in a new way with these talented musicians who give beyond their amazing BSO performances . In fact , at his insistence , Yao will perform at my retirement community this year !
SHEILA MEYERS
Left : Sheila Meyers ; Right : Vitor Trindade
2022-23 YEAR IN REVEW | 9