Overture Magazine 2019-20 BSO_Overture_Jan Feb | Page 11

BSO double bassist Jonathan Jensen shares that the musicians love
Strathmore’s acoustics because “they are so clear and clean that we
can hear what players on the other side of stage are doing, which
really helps sharpen our ensemble.”
“I love this beautiful building inside and out,” says Mike
Hansen, a BSO Board member, subscriber and resident of
Potomac. Hansen used to drive the considerable distance to the
Meyerhoff to attend concerts, but now he reports, “I’m thrilled
to have the BSO just 15 minutes from home. And it’s also close
to the growing Columbia area. It’s a welcoming space, and it just
feels good to be there.”
In June 2019, The Music Center introduced a new expansion:
the Bernard Family Foundation Pavilion, built with finan-
cial assistance from the state and private donors. To assist
accessibility, it includes an escalator; Hazangeles reports that
was the public’s most requested feature. It also expands the
Center’s dining facilities considerably. Theresa Cameron, the
BSO’s Vice President for Strathmore, shares that the Pavilion
blends in beautifully with the existing building and with the
outside environment. “It’s light-filled and makes a nice place to
get a meal, along with a comfortable donors’ lounge, the Com-
cast Lounge. Now we have a real one-stop shop where you can
dine and then attend a wonderful concert.”
(Top) Stage Personnel Ennis Seibert, MJ Marqua, Todd Price,
Mario Serruto and Chuck LaMar prepare orchestral equipment for a
performance at Strathmore. (Bottom) The Music Center at Strathmore
BSO on the Road
“I’m continually amazed to hear an exceptional concert at the all the time,” reports Cameron. The musicians bring enrichment
Meyerhoff in the evening, and the next day our very experienced to our community in so many ways,” adds Hansen. “I love these
and skilled crew has us all ready to perform at Strathmore,” says educational programs because they teach life lessons—teamwork,
Kjome. A truck departs from the Meyerhoff bringing all the self-confidence and support of others—as well as musical ones.”
larger instruments, music and everything else needed for a per-
formance. Two buses—one from the Meyerhoff and the other A Living, Breathing Partnership
at Meadow Wood Park in Baltimore County—roll out with the Theresa Cameron, who formerly managed the Arts and Humanities
musicians. “I’ve gotten to enjoy these trips,” reports Jensen. “We Council of Montgomery County, says, “I love that this is such a
can be quiet and reflective going down, and then on the way lively, active partnership between Strathmore and the BSO—a
back there’s lots of conversation—almost
living, breathing operating machine.” Han-
a party atmosphere. I think we’ve all got-
sen comments that it’s become a symbiotic
ten better acquainted with each other
relationship: “Strathmore would not exist
“I’m continually
during these trips.”
as it does today without the BSO as its
The musicians don’t only travel to
Founding Partner.”
amazed to hear an
Montgomery County for concerts: they
“The BSO contributes to making Strath-
exceptional concert at the
are also involved in a range of educational
more a jewel of our county—Strathmore
Meyerhoff in the evening,
activities there. Jensen’s current favorite
is not simply an elegant structure but also
and the next day our
is the Music Box series for the youngest
home to excellent art in so many forms. We
children, ages six months to three years,
are proud and appreciative to have BSO in
very experienced and
held at Strathmore’s intimate AMP site.
Montgomery County,” says Montgomery
skilled crew has us
“We teach them about how instruments
County Executive Marc Elrich.
all ready to perform
make their different sounds and encour-
Peter Kjome stresses that the BSO’s
at Strathmore”
age them to move around and dance.”
presence at Strathmore will only grow.
PETER KJOME
The series has a narrator, and Jensen plays
“The BSO now has devoted friends across
BSO President and CEO
both piano and his double bass.
Maryland. Montgomery County has
There is also OrchLab, Montgomery
embraced it and enthusiastically sustained
County’s education outreach program, which brings BSO musi- its presence there. The relationship is key for the Orchestra’s future.
cians to work with student instrumentalists in select Title One And we also hope to create more programming in other Maryland
public schools. And for adults, BSO musicians perform chamber communities. The Baltimore Symphony’s goal is to be a cultural
concerts on Musical Mondays, held at a nearby church with excel- source of vitality for the City of Baltimore and beyond that, for the
lent acoustics. “We have something going on for people of all ages entire State of Maryland.” ■
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