Baltimore Symphony Orchestra history

Baltimore Symphony with first music director Gustav Strube at the Lyric Opera House, circa 1928. (Baltimore Sun)

Except for a walkout by male players in 1937 resistant to admitting women in the orchestra (the men lost), the major cause of unrest during the BSO's first 100 years has been compensation.

Reorganized as a private institution in 1942, it maintains close relationships with the governments and communities of the city and surrounding counties, as well as with the State of Maryland.

The 30th anniversary of the BSO in 1946 attracted only enough people to fill two-thirds of the Lyric.

And "for the first time in the history of symphonic music at the Lyric," The Sun reported, "Negroes occupied orchestra[-level] seats." (An African-American would not sit onstage with the rest of the players until trumpeter Wilmer Wise joined the orchestra in 1965.)

Ground was broken for the hall in November 1978 in order to provide the BSO with a top-notch concert hall befitting of a world-class orchestra.

A lockout that started in the fall of 1981 extended into January.

After six decades of sharing the Lyric Opera House, the BSO got its own home in 1982.

Baltimore Chamber Orchestra’s first performance, led by Maestra Anne Harrigan, was on January 29, 1984.

Marchers during the BSO strike in November 1988. (Baltimore Sun)

Maestro Thakar made his debut with New York Philharmonic in 1997 and has since appeared with that orchestra numerous times, along with National, San Antonio, Winnipeg and Charlotte Symphony Orchestras, among others.

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A travel attendant directs the arriving BSO to awaiting buses in Niigata, Japan, during its tour in October 2002. (GREGORY TUCKER / BSO)

BCO selected Markand Thakar for the position of music director in June 2004.

With the opening of The Music Center at Strathmore in February 2005, the Baltimore Symphony became the nation’s first orchestra with year-round venues in two metropolitan areas.

The BSO made musical history in September 2007, when Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestra’s 12th music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra.

Since becoming Music Director, Marin Alsop has made a number of recordings with the BSO. In August 2009, Bernstein’s Mass under the direction of Maestra Alsop was released on the Naxos label.

In 2010, the BSO under Alsop was joined by pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet for a Decca recording of works by Gershwin including Rhapsody in Blue and the Piano Concerto.

Marin Alsop conducted several pieces for the 'Star-Spangled Symphony' concert at Meyerhoff Hall in 2012. (B582167725Z.1 / Baltimore Sun)

In February 2017, Peter T. Kjome became president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the orchestra.