Overture Magazine - 2015-2016 Season March-April 2016 | Page 4

overture The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra 2015–2016 Season 410.783.8000 | 1.877.BSO.1444 BSOmusic.org The Baltimore SyMphony ORchestra Marin Alsop Music Director Barbara M. Bozzuto Chair Paul Meecham President & CEO Martha Thomas Publications Editor Janet E. Bedell Program Annotator Baltimore magazine Design and Print Division Director Ken Iglehart [email protected] 443.873.3916 Art Director Vicki Dodson Senior Graphic Artist Michael Tranquillo Contributing Writers Laura Farmer Christianna McCausland Martha Thomas { from the president Welcome As part of our year-long Centennial celebration, the BSO has commissioned a series of 10 short original compositions from some of the most innovative composers working today. Supported generously in part by Classical Movements, Inc., the series features six women composers, including Kristin Kuster, whose piece Moxie was performed at the anniversary gala in February. Each work is inspired by a Baltimore motif— Diversity … ranging from David Simon to dancing blue crabs is an increasingly — suggested by a call to the public. Stay tuned for important strategic more surprise premieres through next season! Diversity — in the audiences we reach and initiative as the BSO in the programs we offer — is an increasingly looks forward to important strategic initiative as the BSO looks its second century. forward to its second century. In late January, we announced a generous $500,000 grant from the Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown Family Foundation to OrchKids. This is a matching challenge to inspire the African-American community to contribute an additional $500,000 to support a program for mostly African-American youth in City schools. In February, we welcomed Rhea Beckett, an Urban Arts Leadership Fellow for a five-month diversity internship working in administration. Rhea will help us with community outreach around our Porgy & Bess performances in April and a community concert scheduled for May 6. A classically trained vocalist who sings opera in four languages, Rhea is pursuing an MFA at MICA in curatorial practices. Looking further ahead to June, the BSO will host the League of American Orchestra’s annual conference. This year’s theme, “the richness of difference,” is focused on diversity. Our cover story in this issue is about the BSO’s leadership in promoting female musicians and composers (our groundbreaking appointment of Marin Alsop, may be the strongest evidence of our commitment to female leadership in the symphonic realm). Here in Baltimore, and indeed throughout the U.S., as we have challenging discussions about race, the BSO is committed to a concert hall that is for everyone, of every background. Enjoy the concert! Advertising Account Representatives Lynn Talbert [email protected] 443.974.6892 Baltimore magazine Design and Print Division 100