BSO Academy

Orchestral Tracks Information

BSO Academy participants who choose the Orchestral Track will perform and rehearse side-by-side with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, culminating in a final concert on Saturday, June 28th, 2025! Members of the Academy are split between two groups so that each Academy musician is seated next to a BSO Musician in a 1:1 ratio.*

*Some instrumentalists may be able to participate in both group 1 and group 2 based on availability!

Prior to the BSO Academy week, BSO musicians will check in with participants via Virtual Workshops, and during the BSO Academy week, you will be led in sectionals by BSO musicians ready to help you succeed!

Repertoire

Group 1 will be performing: 

• Berlioz – Roman Carnival Overture
• Respighi – Fountains of Rome
• De Falla – The Three Cornered Hat, Suite no. 2

Group 2 will be performing: 

• Berlioz – Benvenuto Cellini Overture
• Respighi – Roman Festivals

Please note that placement in the applicant’s preferred group is not always guaranteed, due to instrumentation and space restrictions. 

Chamber Music Track

BSO Academy participants who choose the Chamber Music Track will perform in a chamber group alongside a BSO musician. Here you will receive highly individualized attention from a BSO Musician, culminating in a performance of the music your group has prepared.

Participants in the Orchestral Track can also participate in a Chamber Music group, provided there is space available!

About Other Classes and Offerings during BSO Academy Week

Large Ensembles

Hone your skills with members of your section through large ensemble rehearsals! Participants in BOTH the Orchestral and Chamber Music tracks participate in these ensembles. Groupings include:

• String Orchestra

• Flute Ensemble

• Clarinet Choir

• Double Reed Ensemble

• Brass Choir

• Percussion Ensemble

All ensembles are led by BSO Musicians! Large Ensembles culminate in a performance for your fellow participants and the public during the BSO Academy week.

Special Topic Classes

Hear your BSO Musician mentors go in-depth on various topics they are passionate about within the field. Recent class offerings have included topics such as:

• How to Really Learn a Fugue led by BSO pianist-in-residence, Lura Johnson

• The Miraculous Metronome led by BSO Principal Timpanist, James Wyman

• Dynamic String Section Playing led by BSO Acting Associate Concertmaster, Holly Jenkins

• Brass Survival Guide: A Crash Course on How to Survive an Intense Week of Playing led by BSO One-Year Associate Principal Horn, Megan Hurley

• Style & Expression for Mahler & Tchaikovsky led by BSO Assistant Principal Cello, Lachezar Kostov

Lunch during the BSO Academy Week

To help maximize your learning opportunities during BSO Academy Week, we provide lunch throughout the week. Recent vendors have included: Atwater’s Traditional Food, Chipotle, the Big Greek Cafe, Amicci’s of Little Italy, Honeygrow, Homeslyce, and others! Lunches are open to participants and BSO Musicians, who you can socialize with during meals!

Lunch & Learn

On certain days of the week, we hold Lunch & Learn – a chance to hear a lecture by certain leading scholars in the field of musicology and wellness! Past lectures have included topics such as the lives of composers Mahler & Tchaikovsky by acclaimed musicologist Caitlin Brown, and Health & Wellness led by Occupational Therapist, Serap Bastepe-Gray.

Private Lessons

Private Lessons with BSO Musicians are a popular add-on experience for BSO Academy! Prior to the beginning of the week, a list of faculty and sign-up form is distributed to participants along with a payment portal. Lessons are offered for $130/hr. Most lessons take place at the beginning of the week, and offer you a chance to work in depth on the repertoire you will be performing at the end of the week!

Solo with Piano Recital

Perform in a solo recital with your fellow BSO Academy participants! This is a fabulous opportunity to collaborate with our fabulous BSO pianist-in-residence, Lura Johnson! Each performer is offered a short rehearsal with Lura in which to rehearse a short piece (up to 7 minutes long) for performance on the recital! Participation in this recital costs $100, which compensates Lura for the time and preparation required to accompany you!

Day at a Glance

While your day may look slightly different depending on what track you choose, here’s what a sample day at the BSO Academy might look like!

How to Apply

Click here to submit your application for the 2025 BSO Academy!

The BSO Academy does not require an audition to be accepted! A basic knowledge of reading music is required, and participants should be able to comfortably play or follow along with the level of selected repertoire and be able to contribute to conversations about techniques necessary to perform the repertoire.

We encourage all to apply! Many participants are not able to play every single note in a difficult passage – you don’t have to! The BSO Academy places you side-by-side with a pro, who will cover the parts beyond your ability. The BSO faculty will guide you with suggestions on how to simplify and practice difficult passages.

Reach out to education@bsomusic.org if you are not sure if this program is right for your level.