FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Friends,
With the start of the new year, we are renewed with a spirit of growth and sense of optimism for what can be.
In fact, these winter months are among the most exciting in the 2025 – 26 season, filled with variety and many opportunities to be inspired by the talents of our Baltimore Symphony musicians.
Concert programs in this issue span every imaginable genre. From video game music to classical jazz masters, American R & B standards to the Latin pop explosion of the’ 90s and’ 00s, and a special BSO Fusion program that mixes Vivaldi’ s Four Seasons, reimagined by the Nu Deco Ensemble, with the rhythms of Earth, Wind & Fire.
In the Classical Collection, Music Director Jonathon Heyward returns to the podium for three programs, including this season’ s reimagined Casual Conversations concerts, a series of three Saturday concerts beginning at 7 pm. In late January, audiences will gain a deeper understanding of Haydn’ s Symphony No. 100,“ Military Symphony” and the Brahms Violin Concerto through a conversation between Jonathon and violinist, Simone Lamsma. In late February, we encourage you to experience the first concerts in our multi-program EARTH | Songs Series. Featuring BSO Principal Percussionist, Edouard Beyens performing the music of Tan Dun, and Stravinsky’ s The Rite of Spring, this is a concert weekend not to miss!
The weeks and months ahead are also a time to be reminded of the civic importance of the BSO. In February, nearly 110 years to the day since our municipal founding, we will partner with Carnegie Hall for our second annual Link Up event, The Orchestra Swings, with Sean Jones and the Peabody Jazz ensemble. Read more on page 9 about how we are preparing teachers, and plan to welcome thousands of students to the Meyerhoff. And on February 12, the fourth annual Lunar New Year Celebration returns to Strathmore to ring in the Year of the Horse. As I continue to reflect on a recent historic trip to China( page 6), we are proud to center multi-cultural celebrations at the BSO and showcase incredible talents and traditions from our regional and global AAPI community.
And finally, we acknowledge the retirement of longtime BSO cellist, Esther Mellon. You can read more about Esther and her 48-year-long tenure at the BSO on page 6.
Thank you for keeping the BSO in your priorities for 2026; we look forward to spending this year together.
MARK C. HANSON President and CEO Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
PAGE 6 CELEBRATING ESTHER MELLON
PAGE 8 HEAR IT FROM HEYWARD
PAGE 10 THE ORCHESTRA SWINGS
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