Volunteer

Join our team of nearly 300 dedicated volunteers to make music happen in our venues, in our schools, and all over our state of Maryland. With a wide variety of support needs, there is a volunteer opportunity for all audiences and ages. Review our volunteer opportunity categories below for more specific details.

I want to be a BSO Volunteer

Volunteer Handbook

Volunteer Roles

Midweek Volunteer: Volunteers will welcome and guide groups of school-aged and preschool children to their seats. Work with teachers, parents, and guardians. May be asked to assist with bus boarding and unloading pre- and post-concert. Volunteers should report to Brian Prechtl, Adrienne Hyde or another member of the BSO Education Team for all Midweek Concerts.

Music Box Volunteer: Volunteers will welcome and help preschool children, and their families find seating on the floor of the Meyerhoff lobby. They may also be asked to assist in helping families during pre- and post-concert engagement opportunities. Volunteers should report to Brian Prechtl, Adrienne Hyde or another member of the BSO Education Team for all Music Box Concerts.

Family Concert Volunteer: Volunteers will welcome and guide families to their seats. They may also be asked to assist in helping families during pre- and post-concert engagement opportunities. Volunteers should report to Brian Prechtl, Adrienne Hyde or another member of the BSO Education Team for all Family Concerts.

BSYO Volunteer: Volunteers will welcome and guide groups of BYSO musicians and their families during BSYO concerts. They may be asked to help with merchandise sales and other pre- and post-concert engagement opportunities. Volunteers should report to Parents Advisory Council (PAC) volunteers or BYSO staff for all BSYO concerts.

GM Lounge Host (@ JMSH): GM Lounge hosts are friendly greeters responsible for checking in guests to the lounge and maintaining the complimentary snack bar. The GM Lounge opens when the lobby opens (typically 90 minutes prior to a concert) and remains available to members through intermission.

Usher Volunteer (@ JMSH): A BSO volunteer usher must be approved and trained by Ms. Tiffany Bryan. BSO Volunteer Ushers are REQUIRED to stay from lobby open to lobby close and through the entire performance and held to the same expectations of customer service and professionalism as staff ushers. Usher volunteer duties include: Pre-concert lobby set-up, guiding and assisting patrons in finding their seats, assisting with mobility seating, post-concert sweep of the hall.

Lobby Ambassador (@ JMSH): Lobby Ambassadors are tasked with creating a welcoming and positive BSO concert experience for all patrons. The primary duties of this volunteer role are to hand out Overture/concert programs to patrons, answer patron questions, and acting as crowd control. Lobby Ambassadors may be asked to support other activities in the lobby including the step & repeat photo opportunity, table reservation check-in and the craft tables.

Step & Repeat Photographer (@ JMSH): As a specialization of the Lobby Ambassador role, these volunteers are tasked with creating a welcoming and positive BSO concert experience for all patrons. The primary duties of this volunteer role are to take pictures of patrons, using their phone/camera, in front of the BSO photo opportunity (step & repeat), assist in pre-concert set-up and post-concert clean-up of the photo opportunity area.

Table Reservation Check-in (@ JMSH): As a specialization of the Lobby Ambassador role, these volunteers are tasked with creating a welcoming and positive BSO concert experience for all patrons. The primary duties of this volunteer role are to check-in patrons who have ordered a Table Reservation and give them their charcuterie boxes and direct them to their table.

Craft Table Volunteer (@ JMSH): As a specialization of the Lobby Ambassador role, these volunteers are tasked with creating a welcoming and positive BSO concert experience for all patrons. The primary duties of this volunteer role are to assist patrons at the craft tables, pre-concert set-up and post-concert clean-up the craft tables and act as crowd control if/when the tables get crowded.

Comcast Lounge Host (@ Strathmore): Comcast Lounge hosts are friendly greeters responsible for checking in guests to the lounge. The Comcast Lounge opens when the lobby opens and remains available to members through intermission.

Lobby Ambassador (@ Strathmore): Lobby Ambassadors are tasked with creating a welcoming and positive BSO concert experience for all patrons. The primary duties of this volunteer role are to provide support to the concierges on staff and answer patron questions.

Special Event Volunteer (Location Varies): Special events vary from one-time off-site events to BSYO concerts to anything else that is not one of the standard volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer Social/Orientation Attendee: Role is set up as an RSVP for the Volunteer Socials/Orientations that will be held in the 2024-25 Season. The first was held October 5th at 5:30PM at JMSH other dates and times TBD.

Volunteer Benefits

To demonstrate our gratitude for the dedication of our Volunteers, the BSO offers the following benefits:

Complimentary and Discount Tickets to select performances
Personalized BSO Name Badges
Invitations to special events in honor of our Donors and Volunteers
Name recognition in external communications like programs and annual reports
A stake in the future of the BSO through open feedback and listening sessions with staff

We require the following of our Volunteers:

Be at least 16 years of age
Be committed to creating a safe and comfortable experience for all BSO patrons, staff, artists, and guests regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.
Accept and abide by the BSO Code of Conduct at all times while representing our institution, both on and off-site.
The ability to use the Bloomerang application or website to register, complete training, sign-up for shifts, and track hours.

Volunteer Dress Code

Volunteer Ushers: The uniform is the same uniform as staff ushers - blue long sleeve button down and black slacks wore with a name badge. If you do not already have these items, please wear all black until you can acquire them. If you would like help in sourcing a blue button up, please reach out to bszabo-marshall@bsomusic.org

All other Concert Experience Volunteers (Lounge Hosts, Lobby Ambassadors, Step & Repeat Photographer, Table Reservation Check-in, Craft Table Volunteer): Expected to wear Concert Black, which is all black concert appropriate (business) attire and a volunteer name badge and/or lobby ambassador lanyard. Examples: knee length or longer dress or business separates a button up, polo or blouse worn with slacks, a skirt or dark jeans (with no rips or tears). Blazers, sport coats, suit jackets and ties are encouraged but not required.

Education Event Volunteers: There is no mandatory uniform. Volunteers are expected to dress in comfortable concert appropriate (business casual) attire and wear a volunteer name badge or lobby ambassador lanyard.

Administrative Support Volunteers: There is no mandatory uniform. Volunteers are encouraged to dress comfortably for sitting and completing clerical work, business casual attire is recommended.

Special Event Volunteers: Dress code will vary depending on the event, please look at the shift description for more information.