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JONATHAN RUSH
BSO Associate Conductor
Hailed as “ a continually rising talent in the conducting world ” by The Baltimore Sun , Jonathan Taylor Rush brings passion , unique interpretation , and a refreshing energy to the orchestral experience . Rush was appointed as the Assistant Conductor for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 2020 and promoted to Associate Conductor in 2022 . Previously , he served as Music Director of the Buckeye Philharmonic Orchestra , as well as Conducting Fellow for the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras . In 2018 , Rush was a Project Inclusion Conducting Fellow with the Chicago Sinfonietta , and in 2019 he was named Assistant Conductor . Jonathan won the 2018 Respighi Prize in Conducting and made his professional orchestra debut with the Chamber Orchestra of New York at Carnegie Hall . Currently , Jonathan continues to conduct both nationally and internationally , with notable debuts including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra , Detroit Symphony Orchestra , Chicago Sinfonietta , Reno Chamber Orchestra , Baltimore Symphony Orchestra , Nairobi Philharmonic , Washington Nation Opera , and the Minnesota Orchestra .
Jonathan ’ s mentors and former teachers are Marin Alsop , Mei-Ann Chen , and Joseph Young . Jonathan received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from The Ohio State University , and a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting , from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University .
WORDSMITH
BSO Artistic Partner
Wordsmith is a Baltimore-based songwriter , performer , entrepreneur , and philanthropist .
In 2009 he opened his independent label NU Revolution Entertainment and has released six albums and is a Grammy Voting Member and winner of Best Rap / Hip Album for Perspective Jukebox at the 16th Independent Music Awards . Wordsmith continues to use this platform to strengthen partnerships with major brands like : Netflix , ESPN , NFL Network and WWE to name a few . 2019 brought prominent features in the hit shows Russian Doll ( Netflix ), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ( Netflix ), Preacher ( AMC ), Skam France ( UK TV ) and recently had two songs featured in the video game NBA 2K21 Next Gen !
Continuing to expand the company , Wordsmith officially opened his nonprofit “ Rise with a Purpose , Inc .” and has partnered with the U . S . Department of State to fund performances and workshops in countries around the world to strengthen multicultural ties .
Wordsmith created a new narration for Carnival of the Animals for the BSO and hosted the 2018 BSO Gala with special guest Cynthia Erivo . He was named Artistic Partner in September 2020 . In 2021 , James Lee III and Wordsmith debuted a piece called Destined Words for the BSO Gala Celebration in honor of Marin Alsop . He has performed the reinterpretation of Stravinsky ’ s A Soldier ’ s Tale and Beethoven Ninth with the BSO .
With Hip-Hop being Wordsmith ’ s first love , he has also collaborated with notable acts like Chubb Rock , Skyzoo , Camp Lo , Sadat X , Jaz-O , Ruste Juxx , Grand Daddy I . U ., and his cousin Roc Marciano over the years .
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