{ In House } { In Tech }
Tonya Robles ’ brand new Porsche
Tonya Robles reluctantly left what she thought was her dream job in 1997 . Landing that position , in the BSO Education department , she says , “ was like getting a Porsche for your 16 th birthday .” Now , nearly 20 years later — after accompanying her naval officer husband Michael on four overseas assignments — Robles has returned to take the post of Vice President and General Manager at the BSO , and she ’ s over the moon . “ It ’ s the closest thing to a dream come true ,” says Robles , who has pursued a career in arts administration in spite of more than a dozen moves . “ I ’ ve followed the BSO from afar for two decades and feel as if I ’ ve come home again professionally .”
Robles was most recently executive director of Concert Artists of Baltimore , and has held positions at arts institutions in Virginia , Washington , D . C ., Texas and Rota , Spain .
One thing Robles can promise . “ I ’ m not going anywhere ,” she laughs . “ The sound of packing tape and the smell of cardboard boxes gives me the shakes .”
The Sounds of Science
The BSO uses a novel app to teach new concepts
At certain BSO concerts , instead of being told to turn off cell phones , audience members will be encouraged to keep them on — and check them throughout the performance . A new smartphone and tablet app , Octava , is being tested at the BSO thanks to an unprecedented grant from the National Science Foundation .
Octava is synced with the orchestra to provide sciencerelated program notes as the music is happening , enhancing listeners ’ experience by underscoring connections between music and science .
The pilot of the app was scheduled for September performances of Beethoven ’ s Symphony No . 5 and Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras No . 5 . The content was developed by Octava co-creator Linda Dusman ; Astrophysicist and BSO Science Advisor Mario Livio and members of the BSO education department . Results from audience surveys of the pilot will be delivered in June , 2017 .
Jordan August
Octava app
A new leader for OrchKids
Eight years ago , 30 students at Harriet Tubman Elementary School were offered the chance to choose an instrument and learn to play it . Today , OrchKids serves more than 1,000 children at six schools in East and West Baltimore , and is a model for social change through arts education .
Barbara Bozzuto , BSO ’ s Executive Board Chair , recently announced the appointment of Raquel Whiting Gilmer as OrchKids ’ first executive director . Bozzuto describes Whiting Gilmer as “ a game changer ,” and predicts that the new executive director “ will build upon OrchKids ’ solid foundation to further deepen the program ’ s impact on Baltimore City schoolchildren .”
Most recently , Whiting Gilmer was executive vice president of Academic Support for Learn It Systems , which provides academic , enrichment and professional services in more than 150 school districts nationwide .
{ In the spotlight }
Encore
In June , students from OrchLab , the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras and OrchKids collaborated on a presentation of Piazzolla ’ s Libertango with cellist Yo-Yo Ma . The piece was the encore after Ma ’ s stunning performance of Dvoř ák ’ s Cello Concerto , in front of a sold-out audience at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall . The performance was the first time musicians from the BSO ’ s three youth programs have joined the full Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Marin Alsop on stage .
September – November 2016 | Overture 5