Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
FROM THE President
Welcome to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’ s 2026-27 season!
We are thrilled to have you joining us at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and The Music Center at Strathmore for the opening concerts in our new season, Illuminated Through Sound. With two new lifestyle offerings at the Meyerhoff, a year-long focus on the enduring legacy of Beethoven, and symphonic programs presented with exciting visual components, this is truly a season that offers something for everyone.
In this issue, don’ t miss the debut of our new Coffee Series, four concerts this season conveniently scheduled at 11 am on Fridays, plus an October program with BSO Concertmaster Jonathan Carney as soloist. As we plan to welcome our newest instrument of excellence to the Meyerhoff later this season, please help us to thank everyone who contributed to the BSO’ s Piano Fund over the past year. With great pianists like Bruce Liu and Garrick Ohlsson featured this fall, and Yeol Eum Son bringing all five Beethoven piano concertos to life in February, our first piano acquisition in more than two decades is perfectly timed.
On the heels of an exciting SummerFest season with concerts and community-based collaborations across the state of Maryland, we are looking forward to expanding on existing partnerships and creating new connections aligned with our“ Symphony for All” mindset. At the time of printing, we have already launched the first in a new partnership with Pier Six Pavilion, bringing the Orchestra back to Baltimore’ s iconic waterfront venue for an America 250-themed concert with violinist Jenny Oaks Baker.
Of course, none of this work would be possible without the transformational leadership of Music Director Jonathon Heyward and the world-class talents of our BSO musicians. We are honored to welcome five new musicians to the BSO family this year, and I encourage you to get to know them on page four. As Jonathon launches into his fourth season, it is clear how his vision, passion, and commitment to the power of music is shaping the Orchestra’ s programs on and beyond the stage. Hear directly from Jonathon on page seven about what the 2026-27 season means to him.
We are so happy to have you here and cannot wait to begin our Illuminated Through Sound journey together.
MARK C. HANSON President & CEO Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
ABOUT THE
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
For over a century, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra( BSO) has been a cornerstone of Maryland’ s cultural life and one of America’ s premier orchestras.
In July 2022, the BSO appointed Jonathon Heyward as Music Director, marking the start of a vibrant new chapter. Through inclusive programming and community engagement, he seeks to break down barriers and further connect with diverse audiences making the BSO a " symphony for all ".
Heyward succeeds Marin Alsop, Music Director Laureate and OrchKids Founder. Members of the BSO play on instruments from
Alsop’ s family collection, including an 18th-century cello by Carlo Antonio Testore and an 1810 Nicolas Lupot violin, enriching the Orchestra’ s sound and preserving the legacy of Alsop’ s parents. The BSO engages over 350,000 people annually across Maryland. Since 1982, it has performed at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore City, and in 2005, it became the only U. S. orchestra to present a full season in two metropolitan areas with the addition of The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda.
Learn more at BSOmusic. org
2 | OVERTURE | BSOmusic. org