BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SYMPHONY IN THE CITY

Free Outdoor Concert at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Music Director JONATHON HEYWARD to Conduct
Symphony In the City Series Season Finale

In Tribute to the Key Bridge Tragedy, Recovery and Rebuilding
Co-Presented by Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Baltimore, MD – The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) proudly announces the grand finale of its 2023-24 Symphony in the City concert series on Friday, June 7 at 7:00 pm at Fort McHenry. The free community outdoor concert, co-presented with Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, the birthplace of the American national anthem, holds particular significance as it closes the historic inaugural season under the direction of Music Director Jonathon Heyward.

Under Heyward’s baton, the performance is dedicated to those affected by the March 2024 Key Bridge tragedy and recovery, serving as a tribute to the lives lost, the bravery of first responders, and the resilience of the Baltimore community. Free and open to all, the concert features a stellar lineup of performers, including the world-class Orchestra, BSO Artistic Partner Wordsmith, and young musicians from BSO OrchKids and the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras.

While the concert is free to attend, the BSO invites attendees to reserve their tickets and pay it forward to support the Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund at the Baltimore Community Foundation. This fund supports recovery and resilience efforts for the families, port workers, first responders, small businesses and communities impacted by the Key Bridge tragedy.

In addition to the performance of the Star-Spangled Banner in keeping with this historic site of the venue, the uplifting program for the final Symphony in the City concert features a diverse selection of classical and contemporary pieces. Highlights include Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, Marsalis’ Herald, Holler, and Hallelujah (a BSO co-commission), Barber’s Adagio for Strings, and the finale of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, among others. The performance promises to be an unforgettable celebration of Baltimore’s spirit and resolve.

“Music holds a profound power to heal and to bring us together, especially in our most challenging moments,” said BSO Music Director Jonathon Heyward. “As we gather at Fort McHenry, we’re not just sharing a concert; we’re uniting in a communal experience that celebrates resilience and recovery and underscores our belief in music’s ability to comfort, connect, and inspire.”

Symphony in the City:

Friday, June 7, 2024, 7:00 PM
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
East Lawn, 2400 East Fort Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230

Jonathon Heyward, conductor
Wordsmith, spoken word artist
Members of Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras
Members of BSO OrchKids

SHOSTAKOVICH Festive Overture
MARSALIS Herald, Holler, and Hallelujah (BSO co-commission)
BONDS March from Montgomery Variations
WORDSMITH Welcome Home
BARBER Adagio for Strings
RAVEL Rigaudon from Le Tombeau de Couperin
BOLOGNE (arr. Debbaut) Rondeau from String Quartet, Op. 1, No. 3
PRICE (arr. Hart) The Deserted Garden
DVOŘÁK Symphony No.9, mvt. IV.

Attendees can make an afternoon or evening out of their visit to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine by arriving early to tour the Star Fort, birthplace of our national anthem, grab an early dinner or food to go from a local Federal Hill or Locust Point restaurant and then enjoy the Symphony in the City performance. Picnic blankets and lawn chairs are welcome. For ticket reservations, admission details, and more information about permitted items, please visit www.bsomusic.org.

A Robert Meyerhoff and Rheda Becker Community Concert event, the BSO’s Symphony in the City series is made possible by the generous support of Presenting Sponsor BGE, in partnership with the National Park Service and the Friends of Fort McHenry, with additional support from M&T Bank and the National Park Conservation Association. Launched in 2019, Symphony in the City is a testament to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s commitment to bringing world-class music to diverse audiences beyond the walls of the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. It serves as a celebration of community, culture, and the transformative power of music.