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…
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…
Take a look at a new trove of photos from last April when we premiered Approaching Eternity by Nicholas Bentz in April of 2017 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Baltimore. Photo Credit: Dan Rorke.
Music Director Jordan Randall Smith leads the orchestra in Bentz’s Approaching Eternity.
Principal Cellist Mike Newman and cellist Rob Erb Kaufman perform Nick’s work with its challenging writing for strings.
Bassoonist Mateen Milan was an guest artist with the orchestra at the time, but later auditioned to join the group.
Former Associate Concertmaster Kristin Bakkegard leads the orchestra
Current and former Principal Hornist Scott Ullman and Kelso Jones (respectively) perform with guest artist Gabriel Luciano and the woodwinds of Symphony Number One.
The composer in his own words: Nicholas Bentz gives a description of the basis for his sprawling new work, Approaching Eternity for Chamber Orchestra. just moments before the orchestra gives the second performances.
Take a look at this clip of Approaching Eternity, then learn more about our latest album (which includes Approaching Eternity), Approaching.
“Baltimore Prelude is a piece that summarizes my experience with the city of Baltimore. In my experience, Baltimore is a vibrant and energetic city, which I have enjoyed. The musical materials and fragments represent the highlights of my experience. Similar to the technique of montage in filmmaking, they are playfully interacting with each other and shifting the sonic image at a fast pace. It is a piece with energy and excitement, reflecting the various images of the city."
I’m thrilled to be joining Symphony Number One in my new role as Composer-In-Residence for the 2017-2018 season. I’ve admired their mission since their inception, and it’s great to be aboard. I would like to thank Jordan Randall Smith and the administrative team for this significant opportunity. We have a lot of great projects in the works and I’m looking forward to creating some memorable musical experiences in the coming year.
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.
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
