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PRESS CONTACTS:
Teresa Eaton, 410.783.8024
[email protected]
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
BSO Music Director Marin Alsop Leads Family Concert
Series Program “Mr. Smith’s Composition,” March 21
Humorous program takes audiences into the mind of
composer and narrator Gregory Smith
Baltimore, Md. (February 19, 2015) — The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and Music Director
Marin Alsop present the Family Concert Series program “Mr. Smith’s Composition” on Saturday, March
21, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The concert will also include selections
from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Music Director Marin Alsop, protégé of the famous Leonard
Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts, will share fascinating, age-appropriate insight into Beethoven’s
creative process for developing that well-known masterpiece. The program also takes the audience into
the mind of the composer and narrator Gregory Smith. Prior to the concert, patrons are invited to the
Inspiration Zone: beginning at 9:45 a.m., the Meyerhoff lobby will be abuzz with fun pre-concert activities
such as face-painting and chamber music performances by members of the Baltimore Symphony Youth
Orchestras. Please see below for complete program details.
Gregory Smith is a composer whose music can be heard everywhere from Walt Disney Theme parks to
television and movies. In this concert, the winsome Mr. Smith will take audiences on a fun journey into the
actual process of creating a new work of music. For example, sometimes Mr. Smith has trouble starting
the work, gets “composer’s block” that he has to work through or has trouble choosing the right ending.
But other times, inspiration is a wild ride of discovery and can even come from unlikely sources, such as
lunch!
Marin Alsop, conductor
Marin Alsop is an inspiring and powerful voice in the international music scene, a music director of vision
and distinction who passionately believes that “music has the power to change lives.” She is recognized
across the world for her innovative approach to programming and for her deep commitment to education
and to the development of audiences of all ages.
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Marin Alsop made history with her appointment as the 12 music director of the Baltimore Symphony
Orchestra (BSO). With her inaugural concerts in September 2007, she became the first woman to head a
major American orchestra. Her success as the BSO’s music director has garnered national and
international attention for her innovative programming and artistry. Her success was recognized when, in
2013, her tenure was extended to the 2020-2021 season.
Alsop took up the post of principal conductor of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra in 2012, and became
music director in July 2013. There, she steers the orchestra in its artistic and creative programming,
recording ventures and its education and outreach activities. She also holds the title of conductor
emeritus at the Bournemouth Symphony in the United Kingdom, where she served as the principal
conductor from 2002-2008.
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In the summer of 2013, Maestra Alsop served her 22 season as music director of the acclaimed Cabrillo
Festival of Contemporary Music in California. In September 2013, she made history as the first female
conductor of the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms in London. When Musical America named Maestra Alsop
the 2009 Conductor of the Year, they commented, “[Marin Alsop] connects to the public as few
conductors today can.”
Gregory Smith, narrator
The music of composer Gregory Smith covers a wide range of the musical world entertaining thousands
every day and night at Disney theme parks while reaching millions on television networks throughout the
world. Smith’s symphonic family/educational concert works are among the most performed in the genre.
The family/educational concert works of Gregory Smith have received nearly 900 performances by more
than 200 orchestras, often with Smith narrating. Orchestras such as the Atlanta, Baltimore, Bonn, Boston,
Cincinnati, Minnesota, and Toronto symphonies and the Rochester and Hong Kong philharmonics have
embraced Mr. Smith’s unique approach to family/educational concerts. These works have also found an
international audience with numerous performances in the United Kingdom, China, South Korea,
Germany, Greece, Australia and New Zealand. His newest work in this genre, The Animated Orchestra,
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was commissioned for the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music’s 50 Anniversary and premiered in
August 2012 with long-time Smith champion, Marin Alsop conducting. The successful premiere resulted
in an encore presentation at the festival in 2013. The Student Composer Project, pioneered by conductor
Christopher Confessore and the Brevard Symphony, culminates in new works featuring themes by local
school children. Most recently the project featured The Sarasota Orchestra resulting in the new work
Tamiami Sinfonietta.
Smith enjoys a long association with the Walt Disney Company and has served as Composer and
Arranger for numerous productions at all of the worldwide theme parks.
His music for the nighttime spectaculars Wishes, Remember-Dreams Come True, and Magical continue
to entertain and draw record crowds. He contributed original music to the World of Color nighttime
spectacular at Disney California Adventure and also composed the theme for World of Color: Winter
Dreams. Most recently Smith has created symphonic spectaculars for Disneyland Paris as well as Tokyo
Disney Seas.
Recent broadcast credits include the creation of a new theme for CBS election/inauguration coverage and
a new theme arrangement for the Encore Suspense channel. Also for CBS, he conducted and produced
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the re-recording of the original Star Trek theme for the show’s re-mastered 40 anniversary release. In
the genre of sports music, Smith composed a new theme for The Tampa Bay Lightning NHL team. His
theme music for college football on ESPN/ABC is completing its second decade of use.
As a conductor, Smith has recorded with orchestras in London, San Francisco, Nashville and Seattle as
well as numerous studio orchestras in New York, Los Angeles and Prague.
COMPLETE PROGRAM DETAILS
Family Series Concert
Mr. Smith’s Composition
Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 11 a.m. – Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
The Inspiration Zone is located in the Meyerhoff lobby and opens at 9:45 a.m.
Marin Alsop, conductor
Gregory Smith, narrator and composer
Tickets start at $13 and are available through the BSO Ticket Office, 410.783.8000 or
BSOmusic.org.
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The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is funded by an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts
Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by funding from the Montgomery County
government and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County.
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is also supported by the Citizens of Baltimore County and Baltimore
City.
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