Overture Magazine 2019-20 BSO_Overture_Jan Feb | Page 7

MONUMENT LIGHTING OrchKids headline Mount Vernon Tradition T MARIN ALSOP, ORCHKIDS AND THE NATIONAL COALITION OF GIRLS’ SCHOOLS Leading Schools, Leading Girls: Preparing for the Future A t The Bryn Mawr School on Friday, October 18, the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools welcomed Music Director Marin Alsop as Keynote Speaker for their 2019 Educating Girls Symposium, Leading Schools, Leading Girls: Preparing for the Future. The symposium sought to unite educators from across the country to address the ways in which schools are cultivating leadership skills and confidence in young women. In her speech, Alsop shared that she was shocked when, at 9 years old, her violin teacher told her that she couldn’t be a conductor because “girls don’t do that.” “As soon as someone says, ‘you can’t do something,’ I am so motivated,” said Alsop. “I find that ‘can’t’ to me equals ‘must.’ The idea that you could tell a child that they can’t do something is so unacceptable to me. I think everyone can do everything, but of course that is based on opportunity.” Alsop noticed that orchestras often don’t reflect the diversity of the communities we live in, exemplifying the lack of opportunities provided Above: NCGS to students and Trustee and Head of Ashley Hall inspiring the opening School Jill Muti, of BSO OrchKids with Music Director 30 students in 2009. Marin Alsop and OrchKids student “The skills that you Nyshae. learn when you study a musical instrument are transferable to any discipline,” said Alsop. “You have to practice every day, or you don’t get better. It shows you that real progress is incremental. You have to apply yourself. You have to motivate yourself. You have to learn incredible coordination skills. You have to budget your time.” Following her speech, Alsop was joined on stage by OrchKids students Tantrice, Keyona, Nyshae and Ny’Asia and OrchKids Fellow Ms. Autumn for a performance of “Three Dream Portraits” by Margaret Bonds. An accomplished pianist, teacher and composer, Bonds inspired many when she became the first African American to perform as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1933. he lighting of Mount Vernon’s Washington Monument has become a beloved Baltimore tradition, and BSO OrchKids has recently become an integral part of that tradition! Now headlining the pre- lighting performance, this year marked OrchKids’ fifth performance at the Monument Lighting. On December 5, the OrchKids Brass Band helped close the evening of performances with their original compositions and holiday favorites. The festivities culminated in a fireworks show over the monument! GAME DAY O pening one of the most exciting Ravens games this season, members of the Baltimore Symphony brass and percussion sections performed the national anthem at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, November 3. Led by Associate Conductor Nicholas Hersh, the ensemble performed an arrangement of the national anthem written by Sean O’Loughlin. “This was my second time performing at the Ravens game, but the experience was just as, if not more, electrifying,” says Hersh. “Being on the field in a sold-out stadium, with all the fans hollering ‘O!’ in unison back down at you, is simply incredible. And as we were leaving the field after the performance, the Ravens were making their drive to their first touchdown of the night!” The experience was made even better by the Ravens’ win against the previously undefeated New England Patriots with a score of 37–20! 5