Midweek Education Concerts
2024-25 MIDWEEKS
Call Patron Support at 410.783.8000. For orders of 19 or fewer tickets, you can buy online.
For questions or further assistance, please contact Patron Support at 410.783.8000 or PatronSupport@BSOmusic.org.
Please note that due to high demand, funds dedicated to complimentary bus subsidy for Baltimore City Title I schools have been fully expended for the "Play Me a Ghost Story" performances on October 23 and 24th.
TEACHER ACTIVITY GUIDES
The BSO provides arts-integrated, STEAM activated Resource guides to complement the Midweek concerts. Each guide is written by a highly-skilled group of Maryland educators with specialism in music, drama, science, English/Language Arts and visual arts, led by a team of Maryland educators. The activities are designed to inspire creative interactions with the concert materials and to provide a more personal and engaging concert experience.
- STEAM Activated, Arts-Integrated, innovative teacher resource guides designed to enhance each concert program
- Created in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), guides are thoughtfully designed for each concert program by a hand-picked team of educators who specialize in music, social studies, science, English/language arts, drama and visual arts
- Written by expert advisors from Johns Hopkins, the National Park Service, the Maryland Historical Society and the Enoch Pratt Free Library
- Guides align to:
- State and National Curriculum
- Common Core Standards
- National Arts Standards » 21st Century Skills
GENERAL INFORMATION
How much do BSO Midweek Concert tickets cost?
BSO Midweek Concert tickets cost $7 each. For every fifteen (15) paid students, you receive one (1) complimentary chaperone ticket.
How do I purchase tickets for BSO Midweek Concerts?
We encourage you to order tickets directly online by visiting BSOmusic.org/Midweek and clicking on the concert date/time of your choice. Many concert dates book up quickly, so please reserve your tickets in advance and no later than two weeks prior to the concert date. For help with your order please contact Patron Support at 410.783.8000 or 877.276.1444.
Payments must be received within two weeks of placing the order or two weeks prior to the performance date, whichever is earlier. Unpaid orders are subject to cancellation. The BSO cannot provide refunds or exchanges except in specific situations of unplanned school closures or delayed opening times (see “What happens in the event of inclement weather?”).
What is the seating process for Midweek Concerts?
Seating is done by the Patron Support office to keep groups together whenever possible. If you need special accommodation, please contact Patron Support at 410.783.8000 or 877.276.1444.
Please confirm with us if you need special accommodation a minimum of two weeks prior to the concert date.
Where are the concerts held?
Midweek Concerts are held at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore at 1212 Cathedral St.
When will I receive my tickets to the concert?
Once your order has been placed and paid for, you will receive an Education Acknowledgement Form reflecting the number of tickets purchased. The Education Acknowledgement Form also serves as your ticket to the concert. Please bring a copy of this form with you on the day of the concert. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Your group will be seated together.
What happens in the event of inclement weather?
In the event of unplanned school closures or delayed opening times, as determined by the City of Baltimore and/or area Public and Private School administrations, tickets may be exchanged for a rescheduled concert date (if a reschedule date is available) or a Midweek concert in the same or following concert season (subject to availability), or refunded on a case-by-case basis.
In the event that the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra must cancel a concert as a result of numerous unplanned school closures, the BSO will make every attempt to reschedule the concert. In this instance, tickets may be exchanged for the reschedule date (subject to availability) and refunds may be given on a case-by-case basis.
If a student is absent, can I get a refund?
Unfortunately, no refunds or exchanges are possible for any circumstances except as indicated for specific situations of unplanned school closures (see “What happens in the event of inclement weather?”).
Can I take photographs during the concert?
No. Photos and video/audio recording are not permitted inside the concert hall.
Can my students sit in the hall or lobby to eat a snack or lunch?
Unfortunately, there is no space in the lobby for groups to eat. You must return to and move your buses immediately following the concert.
We are a small homeschool family. Can we still attend the Midweek Concerts?
Absolutely! Homeschool and small groups are welcome to attend all of our concerts. If you are part of a larger homeschool group and plan to arrive separately, please make sure that all parties know the name of the person who placed the order and bring a copy of the Education Acknowledgement Form with you on the day of the concert.
Can I bring my young child if he/she sits on my lap?
You must purchase an individual ticket for each member of your group, regardless of age. If you need to bring a younger child, you may stay in the lobby and view the concert on video monitors. We do not recommend attendance at Midweek Concerts for children under the age of 3.
I have a child with special needs in my class. How can I make sure his/her needs are met?
Please contact the Patron Support at 410.783.800 or 877.276. Every effort will be made to accommodate your group. The Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall is wheelchair accessible, and we offer assistance for students who are hard of hearing. Sign-interpreted performances may also be arranged upon request (requests must be made at the time of your reservation but no later than 3 weeks prior to each performance).
Who can I talk to if I have additional questions?
For questions regarding ticket purchases, arrival and check-in, or any special requests, please contact Patron Support at 410.783.800 or 877.276.1444.
Before the Concert
- Resource Guides: The BSO, in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), provides tailor-made teacher resources for each Midweek Concert program. All Young Listener’s Guides align to state and national curriculum and common core standards. Click on the “Teacher Resource Guides” tab to access free lesson plans.
- Special Needs: If members of your group have special needs, please list these needs on your order form, phone, or email. In addition, please contact Patron Support at 410.783.8000 or PatronSupport@bsomusic.org at the time of your reservation but no later than two weeks prior to the concert to confirm all accommodations.
The Day of the Concert
- Upon arrival at the Hall, please make sure to follow the directions of the BSO representatives and Baltimore City Police Officers on duty. They are there for your safety and assistance.
- If you are traveling by bus: a BSO representative or Baltimore City Police Officer will greet your bus and instruct you on where to park. A BSO representative will greet your group on the bus and give instructions before entering the building. Please do not leave your bus unattended until receiving directions from a BSO representative or Baltimore City Police Officer. Bus drivers must remain with their bus during the performance.
- If traveling by car or van, you may pay to park in one of the adjacent garages or on the street, if available.
- Cathedral Street Garage: Located at the corner of Preston and Cathedral Streets opposite the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The entrance is on Cathedral Street. The cost is typically $15 per vehicle, cash only. Handicap parking is available.
- Symphony Center Garage: Located on Park Avenue directly across from the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The cost is typically $15 per vehicle, cash only. Handicap parking is available.
At the Concert
- When you enter the Hall, follow the instructions of the BSO staff for your seating.
- Remind your students that no food, drink or chewing gum is allowed in the hall.
- Please turn off cell phones, cameras or any other video/recording devices.
After the Concert
- Ask your students to remain in their seats at the end of the concert. Please listen carefully as a BSO representative announces the dismissal procedure from the stage.
- Once your group is dismissed, proceed quickly and quietly to your designated exit. If you are unclear as to which exit to use, please do not hesitate to ask a BSO representative.
- We love hearing what students think about our programs! Ask your students to reflect on what they saw and heard at the BSO. Please send feedback to:
BSO Education Department
1212 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Education@BSOmusic.org
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the BSO Education Department at 4103.783.8051 or Education@BSOmusic.org.
Directions to the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Coming from Downtown Baltimore
- Take Charles Street North past the Washington Monument.
- 6 blocks after the Monument, turn left at Preston Street and continue two blocks to Cathedral Street. The Meyerhoff is on the left at the corner of Cathedral and Preston.
- CARS: Turn right on Cathedral Street to enter the Cathedral Garage.
Coming from Pennsylvania, Timonium, Cockeysville, Towson (and points north)
Park free at Timonium or Lutherville light rail stop and take the train to the Cultural Center stop or:
- Take I-83 South to Exit 6 (North Avenue/Mt. Royal Avenue). Stay in the center lane to go straight through the light (you will be on Mt. Royal Avenue) and go straight through 3 lights.
- Before the 4th light there is a fork in the road. Bear right at the fork. That will put you on Cathedral Street. The Meyerhoff is on the right side at the next corner (Cathedral and Preston).
- CARS: Turn left on Cathedral Street to enter the Cathedral Garage.
Coming from Bel Air, Aberdeen, Havre de Grace, White Marsh
- Take I-95 South. Follow signs for I-95 Fort McHenry Tunnel to I-395 Downtown Baltimore.
- Follow the signs for Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (MLK) North.
- Take MLK North for about 3 miles to the intersection of MLK and Howard Street. Stay in your right lane.
- Follow the signs for Chase Street/I-83. Go through 3 lights. The Meyerhoff will be on your left.
- CARS: Proceed straight to the Cathedral Garage on your right.
Coming from Virginia, Washington, Columbia (and points south)
- Take I-95 North to I-395 Downtown Baltimore (Exit 53).
- Follow the signs for Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (MLK) North.
- Take MLK North for about 3 miles to the intersection of MLK and Howard Street. Stay in your right lane.
- Follow the signs for Chase Street/I-83. Go through 3 lights. The Meyerhoff will be on your left.
- CARS: Proceed straight to the Cathedral Garage on your right.
Coming from Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Severna Park, Pasadena
Park free at Cromwell or Ferndale light rail stop and take the train to the Cultural Center stop or:
- Take I-695 (Beltway) toward Towson.
- From I-695, take I-95 North to I-395 for Downtown Baltimore.
- Follow the signs for Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (MLK) North.
- Take MLK North for about 3 miles to the intersection of MLK and Howard Street. Stay in your right lane.
- Follow the signs for Chase Street/I-83. Go through 3 lights. The Meyerhoff will be on your left.
- CARS: Proceed straight to the Cathedral Garage on your right.
Coming from West Virginia, Frederick (and points west)
- Take I-70 East and follow onto I-695 (Beltway) towards Glen Burnie.
- From I-695, take I-95 North to I-395 for Downtown Baltimore.
- Follow the signs for Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (MLK) North.
- Take MLK North for about 3 miles to the intersection of MLK and Howard Street. Stay in your right lane.
- Follow the signs for Chase Street/I-83. Go through 3 lights. The Meyerhoff will be on your left.
- CARS: Proceed straight to the Cathedral Garage on your right.
MUSIC TO GIVE YOU GOOSEBUMPS
PRIME TIME - GRADES 3-6 AND UP
WED, OCT 25 AT 10 AM & 11:30 AM
THU, OCT 26 AT 10 AM
What makes music scary? Is it loud noises, screechy sounds, or the “tap-tap-tap” of skeleton footsteps? Join the BSO and award winning children’s author Anna Celenza for an afternoon of thrilling classics featuring witches, trolls, wizards, and monsters, including works by Camille Saint-Saens, Edvard Grieg, Franz Liszt, and John Williams. The concert will conclude with a musical setting of Celenza’s “Danse macabre” read by the author.
THE NUTCRACKER: A MAGICAL TALE IN MOUNT VERNON
TINY TOTS - PRE-K - GRADE 2 AND UP
WED, DEC 6 AT 10 AM & 11:30 AM
Get ready to be swept away by excerpts of this reimagined version of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Amy Hall Garner and set in the Baltimore neighborhood of Mount Vernon, featuring inspiration from many of our iconic community landmarks such as The Walters Art Gallery, Restaurante Tio Pepe and even the Fireworks from the Monument Lighting! Dancers from the Baltimore School for the Arts will be front and center as they perform to Tchaikovsky’s timeless score and bring the magic all around us to the stage!
JAZZING THE SYMPHONY
MUSIC FOR YOUTH - GRADES 4-8 AND UP
WED, FEB 7 AT 10 AM & 11:30 AM
THU, FEB 8 AT 10 AM
Jazz is America’s greatest indigenous artform. BSO Artistic Partner Wordsmith will lead us on a journey to discover the joys of jazz in the concert hall and its link to Baltimore history in this multimedia presentation of iconic works by Billie Holiday, Eubie Blake, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, and many more.
PHILHARMONIA FANTASTIQUE: THE MAKING OF THE ORCHESTRA
PRIME TIME - GRADES 3-6 AND UP
WED, APR 3 AT 10 AM & 11:30 AM
THU, APR 4 AT 10 AM
Experience the building of the orchestra! The centerpiece of this program is Philharmonia Fantastique: a 25-minute concerto and animated film that follows a magical Sprite on a musical journey through the instruments of the orchestra. By the film’s end, the families of the orchestra overcome their differences to demonstrate “unity from diversity” in a spectacular finale.