Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Appoints John T. Verdon as New CFO

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) has appointed John T. Verdon as its new vice president and chief financial officer, a position he will start on February 11, 2013. Mr. Verdon has held leadership positions in a range of industries. Most recently, he served as CFO for Integrated Systems Analysts, Inc., a Northern Virginia-based firm that specializes in computer systems and solutions. Mr. Verdon's expertise as a Certified Public Accountant and more than 30 years of experience will aid BSO President and CEO Paul Meecham and the BSO board in their efforts to achieve the BSO's strategic vision: to prosper artistically within a sustainably balanced budget.

Speaking of the appointment, Mr. Meecham commented, "John [Verdon]'s experience and reputation of excellence in his field makes him the ideal person to fill this pivotal role. As the BSO continues to expand our impact in the community through innovative initiatives like the BSO Academy, OrchKids and the just-announced Music Box Series, it is essential that we have a superb management team in place to chart the course for the BSO's continued service to this region."

"I welcome the opportunity to work with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra," said Mr. Verdon. "The BSO is vital to this region's cultural life and I am eager to apply my expertise to foster its success."

John T. Verdon is a Certified Public Accountant and boasts more than 30 years of experience as a financial manager in some of the region's leading companies. He has held the post of Chief Financial Officer with Anchor Capitol Corporation, Somerset Development Company and Integrated Systems Analysts, Inc.

About the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

The Grammy Award-winning Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is internationally recognized as having achieved a preeminent place among the world's most important orchestras. Acclaimed for its enduring pursuit of artistic excellence, the BSO has attracted a devoted national and international following while maintaining deep bonds throughout Maryland with innovative education and community outreach initiatives.

The BSO made musical history in September 2007, when Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestra's 12th music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra. With her highly praised artistic vision, her dynamic musicianship and her commitment to accessibility in classical music, Maestra Alsop's leadership has ushered in a new era for the BSO and its audiences.

Under Music Director Marin Alsop's leadership, the BSO has rapidly added several critically acclaimed albums to its already impressive discography. The BSO and Maestra Alsop partnered with the Naxos label to record a three-disk Dvo?ák symphony cycle. The first disc, which includes Symphony No. 9, "From the New World" and Symphonic Variations, was released in February 2008. The second disk in this cycle features Symphonies Nos. 7 and 8, was released in June 2010, and the third disk features Symphony No. 6, Nocturne in B major, and Scherzo capriccioso was released in 2010. Following the success of the BSO's cycle of Dvo?ák recordings, the BSO released two recordings in 2012. The first features Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra and Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, and the second, Mahler's Symphony No. 1, "Titan." The BSO and Maestra Alsop also recorded and released with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet a one-disc recording of Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue & Piano Concerto in 2010. In August 2009, the BSO and Marin Alsop released Bernstein's Mass featuring baritone Jubilant Sykes, the Morgan State University Choir and the Peabody Children's Chorus. The album rose to number six on the Classical Billboard Charts and received a 2009 Grammy nomination for Best Classical Album. The Orchestra made its foray into online distribution in April 2007 with the release of a live-concert recording of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring on iTunes, which quickly became the site's number one classical music download.

In addition to the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, where the orchestra has performed for 28 years, the BSO is a founding partner and the resident orchestra at the state-of-the-art Music Center at Strathmore, just outside of Washington, D.C. With the opening of Strathmore in February 2005, the BSO became the nation's only major orchestra with year-round venues in two metropolitan areas.

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