Main fundraiser photo

Keep the “O” in BSO

Donation protected
Keep the “O” in BSO.

Baltimore Symphony musicians need your help.



We are the Baltimore Symphony Musicians—members of the largest, most prominent arts organization in the State of Maryland—the BSO. As a world-class orchestra for over 103 years, we’ve delivered transcendent sounds of classical and popular music to Baltimore city, the surrounding counties, and the state of Maryland. 

Abruptly, with only three weeks notice, we were locked out by BSO management on  June 17th of this year.


Around the same time, the Maryland General Assembly demonstrated bipartisan support of musician-led bill HB1404. The bill designated $3.2 million over two years ($1.6 million per year) in MD state funding for the BSO. This amount would have pressed pause on the BSO leadership’s destructive plan to downsize the organization and allowed time for analysis and planning for the future of the organization. 

Unfortunately, Governor Hogan decided not to release the $3.2 million in funding, precipitating the fateful decision by BSO leadership to cancel the summer season and lock out musicians from their home, the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. 

We are left with no paychecks until a new contract agreement is reached

The increasing uncertainty has dire consequences:

• Mortgages are heading toward delinquency

• Fees for children’s education are due 

• Musician’s salaries are at the very bottom of the list of major orchestras.

• There will be an inability to retain and attract high caliber musicians with compensation in decline.



In order to keep making music, our mortgages paid and our children in school, we need to raise $100,000.  

What we are fighting for, is what orchestras all over the world are fighting for: respect for the artists who make the music on stages and in orchestra pits everywhere, and the preservation of our amazing symphony orchestras that have been built by generations that preceded us.

Help us keep the music playing!



The Musicians intend to continue providing Maryland with live performances of exceptional music through the summer, as well as the rest of the year. We offer orchestra concerts, chamber music, teaching and mentoring that includes side-by-side events with avocational musicians—a unique opportunity to play with orchestra members. 

Your gift will allow the Baltimore Symphony Musicians to continue to fight to preserve this extraordinary treasure known as the BSO


Follow us at:

URL: Baltimore Symphony Musicians 

Facebook: Baltimore Symphony Musicians 

Twitter: bso_musicians 

Instagram: Baltimore Symphony Musicians

Fundraising team: Baltimore Symphony Musicians (9)

Brian Prechtl
Organizer
Raised $14,927 from 73 donations
Ellicott City, MD
Austin Larson
Team member
Raised $3,615 from 9 donations
Greg Mulligan
Team member
Raised $2,243 from 18 donations
Bill Nerenberg
Team member
Raised $1,975 from 14 donations
Lisa Steltenpohl
Team member
Raised $670 from 4 donations

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.