The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Launches SummerFest at the Meyerhoff

Summer Concert Series Features Popular Music and Interactive Pre-Concert Experiences July 6 – August 10 Creating a Summer Destination at the Meyerhoff

BALTIMORE, MD – The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) proudly introduces SummerFest at the Meyerhoff, an annual summer festival of fresh and accessible programming featuring the talented musicians of the BSO.

In the style of a summer block party, SummerFest at the Meyerhoff transforms the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall into a must-visit summer destination offering a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Guests can grab a bite to eat from local restaurant partners on-site and have fun with pre-concert interactive activities creating a shared community experience.

Aiming to be one of Baltimore’s summer highlights,  SummerFest at the Meyerhoff kicks off on Saturday, July 6 with an American Salute perfect for celebrating the patriotic spirit of the July 4th holiday with a diverse program ranging from popular classical to pops including Gershwin’s jazz-infused classics, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, and groundbreaking works by living American legend Jessie Montgomery, and Baltimore spoken-word artist and BSO Artistic Partner, Wordsmith.

The Saturday, July 13 program features Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Vivaldi’s beloved Four Seasons, where internationally acclaimed violinist Simone Porter joins the BSO, bringing each season to life with dramatic flair and exquisite musicality.

Guests can also look forward to a special presentation of Disney’s Frozen in Concert with composer Christophe Beck’s GRAMMY®-nominated score performed live to the film on Saturday, July 20, and Sunday, July 21.

Classical Jukebox takes the stage on Saturday, July 27 with a unique selection of orchestral favorites, including works by Tchaikovsky, Brahms, and Haydn, as in the dramatic beginnings of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and the heartfelt Adagietto of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony. Audience members have a chance to select their favorite Mozart movement as an encore.

SummerFest at the Meyerhoff concludes on Saturday, August 10 with The Music of John Williams, with performances of the iconic Hollywood scores from films including E.T., Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and Jurassic Park, performed live by the BSO.

“We’re turning the Meyerhoff into the community’s living room this summer, where the BSO’s artistic excellence meets the joyous spirit of a neighborhood gathering,” said BSO President and CEO Mark Hanson. “Our SummerFest at the Meyerhoff programs are designed to delight and unite at our Baltimore home as we come together to celebrate summer with music that spans genres and generations.”

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.BSOMusic.org/summerfest. Tickets start at $27. Order your tickets for SummerFest at the Meyerhoff early to enjoy 25 percent off with the promo code SUMMERFEST25. Offer expires May 24, 2024. (Please note Disney’s Frozen in Concert is not included in this offer.) Audience members can also get a preview of the program via a SummerFest at the Meyerhoff Spotify playlist.

Schedule of Events:

Summerfest at the Meyerhoff
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
1212 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

American Salute
July 6, 7:30pm

Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Wordsmith, spoken word artist

GOULD American Salute
JIMMY LÓPEZ BELLIDO “Techno” from Fiesta!
WORDSMITH New Work (world premiere)
JESSIE MONTGOMERY Source Code
JONATHAN LESHNOFF Dancing Blue Crabs
GERSHWIN Promenade (Walking the Dog)
ANDERSON “Chicken Reel”
CARLOS SIMON Meditations on Grace
SONDHEIM (Sebesky) Sweeney Todd Suite
TCHAIKOVSKY 1812 Overture

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
July 13, 7:30pm

Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Simone Porter, violin

DUKAS The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
VIVALDI The Four Seasons
ANNA CLYNE This Moment
GRIEG Selections from Peer Gynt: Suite No.1

Disney’s Frozen in Concert
July 20 & 21, 3pm

Scott Terrell, conductor
Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts. ® All rights reserved.

Classical Jukebox
July 27, 7:30pm

Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor

Classic Jukebox:
BEETHOVEN Symphony No.5, mvt. I
HAYDN Symphony No.94, “Surprise,” mvt. II
BRAHMS Symphony No.3, mvt. III
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No.4, mvt. IV

Modern Jukebox:
ANGÉLICA NEGRÓN Sinfonia Isleña, mvt. II
GABRIELLA SMITH One, mvt. IV

Universal Jukebox:
MAHLER Symphony No.5, mvt. IV
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 5, mvt. IV

Encore: (By popular demand – audience vote):
MOZART Symphony No.40, mvt. I
OR
MOZART Symphony No.41, mvt. IV

The Music of John Williams
August 10, 7:30pm

Michelle Merrill, conductor

JOHN WILLIAMS Superman March
JOHN WILLIAMS “Flight to Neverland” from Hook
JOHN WILLIAMS Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra
JOHN WILLIAMS Theme from JAWS
JOHN WILLIAMS “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter and
the Sorcerer’s Stone Suite for Orchestra
JOHN WILLIAMS Tango por una cabeza
JOHN WILLIAMS Excerpts from Close Encounters of the Third Kind
JOHN WILLIAMS “Flying Theme” from E.T.
JOHN WILLIAMS Theme from Jurassic Park
JOHN WILLIAMS Selections from Star Wars Suite