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Symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore SO has its principal residence at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, where it performs more than 130 concerts a year. In 2005, it began regular performances at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda. The orchestra's current music director is Jonathon Heyward, since 2023. Marin Alsop, music director from 2007 to 2021, is currently the orchestra's music director laureate.

The Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall has been the home of the Baltimore SO since its opening on September 16, 1982. Named for businessman and philanthropist Joseph Meyerhoff, the 2,443 seat hall has undergone renovations in 1990 and again in 2001.

The orchestra's second home is the 1,976 seat Music Center at Strathmore, located in North Bethesda, Maryland. With the opening of the Music Center at Strathmore in February 2005, the Baltimore Symphony became the nation's first orchestra with year round venues in two metropolitan areas. As the founding partner and resident orchestra of the Music Center, the Baltimore SO presents 35 performances in the concert hall annually. In addition to its Baltimore and Strathmore residencies, the orchestra regularly performs in Frederick, its longest continuing run out concert series, as well as at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills.

In 1987, the Baltimore SO and its then music director David Zinman undertook a concert tour of Europe and the Soviet Union. The Baltimore SO was the first American orchestra in 11 years to tour the Soviet Union after cultural relations resumed towards the end of the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Under Zinman the orchestra made its first visits to Chicago and the Midwestern United States in 1990 and to East Asia] in 1994, with subsequent East Asia tours in 1997 and 2002. The Baltimore SO has often appeared at Carnegie Hall, including a February 2008 concert with the New York premiere of Steven Mackey's percussion concerto Time Release with soloist Colin Currie.

The Baltimore SO performs approximately 30 education concerts and open rehearsals each year for more than 60,000 area students in pre school through 12th grade. Cornerstone initiatives include 'BSO on the Go', a program that brings small groups of Baltimore SO musicians into schools for interactive music education workshops at no cost to the schools, and 'Side by Side' concerts, which allow student musicians to rehearse and perform a full length concert alongside Baltimore SO musicians. Rusty Musicians, a program geared towards adult amateur musicians, allows participants to join the Baltimore SO and perform under its conductor.

In May 2008, the Baltimore SO began OrchKids, an after school program to provide music experience and education for youth in Baltimore City's low income neighborhoods. In collaboration with community partners, it provides music education, instruments, meals and mentorship at no cost to the participants. OrchKids serves more than 400 students from pre K through fifth grade at Lockerman Bundy Elementary School, New Song Academy, Mary Ann Winterling Elementary School and Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School. OrchKids maintains a faculty of 27 professional working/teaching musicians and academy classroom teachers. Business and community partners include Baltimore City Public Schools, The Peabody Institute, Baltimore School for the Arts, The Family League of Baltimore, University of Maryland Baltimore County and others. Lead funding support was provided by initial gifts of $100,000 from Marin Alsop and $1,000,000 from Rheda Becker and Robert Meyerhoff.

The BSO Academy is an annual intensive week long study program that helps amateur musicians improve the skills through learning and performance with the BSO and its conductor. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has provided leadership support for the BSO Academy since 2012.

Geared towards adult amateur musicians, 'Rusty Musicians with the BSO' is a programme where for one evening, amateur musicians are invited to join members of the Baltimore SO on stage to rehearse and perform selected repertoire led by Marin Alsop. The first 'Rusty Musicians' event was at Strathmore in February 2010, with more than 400 amateur musicians participating. The program was repeated at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in September 2010 with nearly 300 adult amateur participants.

The Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras (BSYO), formerly known as the Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra, came under the umbrella of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 2012. It is made up of three different ensembles, categorized by age group and experience: the String Orchestra (SO), the Concert Orchestra (CO), and the Youth Orchestra (YO). The BSYO performs at the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology and the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The BSYO is led by artistic director Jonathan Rush, who also formerly conducted the Youth Orchestra. The String Orchestra is under the baton of Wesley Thompson, the Concert Orchestra is conducted by James Woomert, and the Youth Orchestra is led by Chris Cicconi.

XM Satellite Radio: Hosted by XM Classics 110 program director Martin Goldsmith, each program features a full length BSO concert conducted by Marin Alsop, as well as behind the scenes interviews with Alsop and guest artists. iTunes Clueless About Classical: Hosted by Marin Alsop, these podcasts take novice listeners behind the scenes with the BSO, exploring repertoire, composers, musical concepts and orchestra life. NPR's Performance Today: Concerts broadcast across the U. S.
American Public Media's SymphonyCast: Concerts broadcast across the U. S.