BSO Foundation Launches Mentoring Project

January 29, 2022

The Baltimore Symphony Musicians Foundation has launched a new program dedicated to teaching and mentoring young Black and Hispanic/Latinx students who are committed to study music. The Teaching and Mentoring Program for Orchestra (TEMPO) will pair students with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) musicians to help students refine their skills and master the repertoire, while also learning to navigate the complex and competitive audition process.

This one-on-one relationship between student and mentor is at the core of this program. According to Brian Prechtl of Local 40-543 (Baltimore, MD), president of the Baltimore Symphony Musicians Foundation, “Not only will the BSO musician help the younger musician hone their craft, but they will also provide a source for advice and counsel.”

In order to successfully pursue a career as a professional musician, a young person needs a high-quality instrument, the drive to achieve excellence, and the opportunity to receive individual attention and mentorship from professionals in the field. “Mentorship is especially critical,” says Prechtl. “But we found it was missing for many talented but underrepresented students. With cuts being made to music and performing arts programs, teachers are stretched thin—and often it’s the focus on the individual student that suffers. Personal connections with an experienced professional can make all the difference for a young aspiring musician.”

The overarching mission of the foundation is to support musical performances at schools, religious facilities, and other public venues. Among its many community-based activities, the BSO leads master classes, sectionals, and side-by-side sessions with aspiring community musicians of all ages. Musical outreach includes performances at hospitals and impromptu pop-up public performances. Says Prechtl, “This program is a natural extension of the foundation, and at a grassroots level, addresses the call for development of the next generation of Black and Brown orchestra musicians.”