Symphony Number One is Baltimore's newest chamber orchestra, dedicated to performing and promoting substantial works by emerging composers.
Led by Music Director Jordan Randall Smith, Symphony Number One brings together great composers of the past, virtuoso performers of the present, and the leading compositional voices of the future.
Symphony Number One has been named Winner of The American Prize for Professional Orchestras! This award recognizes our 2017-2018 season which, among other exciting projects, including premieres by Carolyn Chen, Jasmine Arielle Barnes, and 14 other…
Brian Harris
Symphony Number One has named Brian Harris as Managing Director, effective June 15.
Brian Harris is an oboist and network engineer who recently relocated to Baltimore from nearby Clarksburg, MD. He began his career in music education before transitioning into networking and telecommunications infrastructure, where he has remained for over a decade. Because of his managerial role on a range of fast-paced, results-driven contracts, Harris brings a wealth of leadership experience to Symphony Number One’s administrative team. Outside of work, Brian is an active member on the community ensemble circuit. He plays with the Hopkins Symphony Orchestra and performs locally as a freelance musician. Highlights of past performances have included concert cycles with the Columbia Orchestra (MD), NIH Philharmonia, and as featured soloist with the Montgomery Village Community Band. Brian is inspired by the rich musical community in Baltimore, and will be instrumental in planning Symphony Number One’s upcoming seasons.
Symphony Number One returns with the music of Schoenberg and James Lee on September 7 and 8 at the Carl J Murphy Performing Arts Center at Morgan State University. Visit our 2019-2020 season page to learn more.
Symphony Number One has been named a semi-finalist in the The American Prize Orchestra division! This award recognizes our 2017-2018 season which, among other exciting projects, including premieres by Carolyn Chen, Jasmine Arielle Barnes, and 14 other…
SNO Co-founder and founding Concertmaster Nicholas Bentz was interviewed as All-Classical WBJC's inaugural Student Composer of the Month. Podcast host John Scherch talks to Nick about his future plans as a composer and violinist, his history with launching Symphony Number One and his perspectives as a composer. Nick even discusses one of the seven "totems" that guided his compositional process as he created Approaching Eternity for Symphony Number One. Listen to the podcast below:
Album cover for Approaching
What a summer it’s been. Here are a few updates in case you missed them.
Michael Raymond Rittling, Principal Contrabass
Thanks to your support, Symphony Number One is pleased to bring you another great season of thrilling works new works by emerging composers. Earlier today, we reached our funding goal of $10,000, meaning that our project is now funded and our future is bright! Thanks to all of you for your support to serve our community with substantial works by living composers, powerful masterworks, and a twist of pop.
We'll be updating the website with tons of fresh information for Season 3, but for now, here's a quick preview page:
Last Friday, the Warnock Foundation named Symphony Number One to the fall class of Baltimore Social Innovation Fellows! Competing with 84 other entries narrowed down to 24 finalists, we proposed to work with West Baltimore's Innovation Village development district to provide free and severely-reduced-price concerts in West Baltimore that mirror our current offerings in Midtown and Downtown. We've already begun planning the first of these performances.
Asst. Conductor JoAnna Cochenet most recently served as the Conductor of the Northeast String Orchestra in New York and Music Director at Grace United Methodist Church. Cochenet has also been Guest Conductor and Clinician for several All-County, All-City String and Symphony Orchestra Festivals, and other school, camp, and community orchestra rehearsals and concerts across the states. She currently serves as a string instructor at Levine Music in Washington D.C.
The results are in! Hot on the heels of our own "Best of Baltimore" award, we're thrilled to announce the winners of our third Call for Scores competition! And the winners are....
Jordan Randall Smith, Music Director
Brian Harris, Managing Director
Our fourth album is here! You can order your copy of Approaching directly from the Symphony Number One store!
Featuring:
Click on the links above to learn more about and sample each piece.