Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Announces New Road Scholar Program

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) launches the Road Scholar program, through which participants will gain a closer look at the inner functions of the BSO. Established in 1975, Road Scholar, a national organization that facilitates educational travel programs across the world, offers participants once-in-a-lifetime experiences delivered by local and world-renowned experts. Experiences include in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural excursions and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

On this special Road Scholar at the BSO, participants will go behind the scenes with the organization to learn how it operates and to gain a firsthand understanding of why the Orchestra enjoys a devoted national and international following. Participants will go backstage at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, attend rehearsals and performances, and enjoy privileged access to orchestra musicians and staff. In addition, participants will experience some of the innovative education and community outreach initiatives such as Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras (BSYO) and OrchKids.

In May 2014, the BSO Road Scholar program: Backstage and Onstage: Sing Verdi's Nabucco, will incorporate an extraordinary opportunity for participants to sing in three choir rehearsals of selections from Nabucco at the Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric. Culminating the experience, the Road Scholars will join amateur instrumental musicians alongside BSO Musicians at the Meyerhoff.

"The BSO is committed to providing greater access to our programs and musicians, and the Road Scholar program is an ideal way to achieve this goal," said BSO Vice President of Education Carol Bogash. "The Road Scholars are curious, engaged intellectuals who will benefit greatly by seeing this behind-the-scenes peek at all that is required to run a multi-million dollar enterprise like the BSO."

"We are thrilled to offer exceptional new programs with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra," said JoAnn Bell, vice president of programming at Road Scholar. "Special access to opportunities such as attending a performance by Itzhak Perlman, singing selections from Verdi's Nabucco in an open rehearsal, and taking a look at OrchKids are truly unique and we look forward to collaborating with the BSO to offer them as part of our Road Scholar programs."

Program Highlights for each week include:

• Lectures from BSO musicians and staff to discover what makes a major orchestra tick. Also, enjoy exclusive access to a BSO rehearsal, mingle with orchestra musicians at a post-concert reception, and attend a ticketed BSO performance.
• Go beyond grand concert halls and into the classrooms of West Baltimore with the BSO's award- winning outreach program, OrchKids.
• Discover 18th century Baltimore on an exploration led by Michael Lisicky, a member of the BSO's oboe section and town crier at historic Fell's Point.

The four BSO Road Scholar programs are:

• February 26-March 2, 2014: Program culminates in attending the BSO Off the Cuff concert CSI: Mozart on Saturday, March 1 at 7 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall (JMSH).
• March 11-15, 2014: Program culminates in attending the BSO classical concert, Bach's Brandenburgs on Friday, March 14 at 8 p.m. (JMSH)
• April 9-13, 2014: Program culminates in attending the BSO classical concert featuring Itzhak Perlman on Sunday, April 13 at 3 p.m. (JMSH)
• May 5-10, 2014: Program culminates in attending Nabucco with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on Friday, May 9 at 7:30 pm at the Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric.

Prices will vary per program. Enroll by phone, 800.454.5768 or through the Road Scholar website, roadscholar.org.

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