THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND 21401-1991
June 5, 2019

The Hon. Lawrence Hogan, Governor
State House, Floor

100 State Circle

Annapolis, MD 21401

Governor Hogan:

We write to you today urging you to commit to releasing $1.6 million in aid to the
Baltimore Orchestra (BSO) that has been included in the Fiscal Year 2020 operating
budget. As you are aware, BSO management recently announced their intention to cancel the
orchestra?s summer programming and reduce the orchestra?s season to 40 weeks. It is our
understanding that these decisions were made, in part, because of uncertainty whether you would
release funding for the upcoming ?scal year.

We are concerned that these actions may have an irreversible impact on the quality of this
world-class orchestra and will unfairly impact the BSD musicians and their families. Time is of
the essence, as BSO management plans to cease paying the musicians after June 

Nobody will dispute that the 850 must make signi?cant changes to its current practices
if they are to be sustainable for the long term. That is why the legislation to provide short term
?nancial support also created a working group that will bring everyone to the table to make those
choices. Both the working group and the ?nancial assistance are necessary to ensure the things
that make the BSO a world-class orchestra are not lost during any restructuring.

The Baltimore Orchestra is truly a statewide cultural resource, performing
regularly at the Strathrnore in Montgomery County and at events across the state. Their
education programs reach schools in nearly every Maryland county and even internationally.
Losing the 830 or seeing it diminished would be a tremendous loss for Maryland. Again, we
urge you to commit to releasing the $1.6 million grant to the 1380 included in the Fiscal Year
2020 budget.

Sincerely,

Delegate Maggie McIntosh, District 43 Senator Nancy King, District 39
Delegate Tawanna Gaines, District 22 Senator Bill Ferguson, District 46
Delegate. Brooke Lionnun, District 46 Senator Antonio Hayes, District 40
Delegate Robbyn Lewis, District 46 Senator Ben Kramer, District 19

Delegate Eric Ebersoie, District 12 Senator Brian Feldman, District 15

Delegate Marc Korman, District 16
Delegate Courtney Watson, District 9
Delegate heanelle Wilkins, District 20
Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, District 20
Delegate Steve Johnson, District 34A
Delegate Al Carr, District 18

Delegate Jen Terrasa, District 13
Delegate Karen Lewis Young, District 3A
Delegate Dana Stein, District 11
Delegate Luke Clippinger, District 46
Delegate Charles Sydnor, District 44B

Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk, District 2]

Delegate Kirill Reznik, District 39

Delegate Charlotte Crutchfield, District 19

Delegate Ken Kerr, District 313
Delegate Kathleen Dumais, District 15

Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr, District 17

Delegate Heather Bagnall, District 33
Delegate Sara Love, District 16
Delegate Jon Cardin, District 11
Delegate Benjamin Brooks, District 10
Delegate Mark Chang, District 32
Delegate Shelly I-lettleman, District 1 1
Delegate Jessica Feldmark, District 12
Delegate Pam Queen, District 14
Delegate Regina T. Boyce, District 43

Delegate Geraldine Valentino-Smith, District 23A

Delegate Vaughn Stewart, District 19
Delegate Steve Lafferty, District 42A
Delegate Sandy Rosenberg, District 41
Delegate Ben Barnes, District 21
Delegate Mary Lehman, District 21
Delegate Jared Solomon, District 18

Senator Mary Washington, District 43
Senator Kathy Klausmeier, District 8
Senator Sarah Elfreth, District 30
Senator Malcolm Augustine, District 47
Senator Douglas .J . Peters, District 23
Senator Joanne Benson, District 24

. Senator Guy Guzzone, District 13

Senator Will Smith, District 20
Senator Jeff District 18
Senator Clarence Lam, District 12
Senator Craig Zucker, District 14
Senator Ron Young, District 3
Senator Jim Resapepe, District 21

Delegate Alonzo Washington, District 22
Delegate Stephanie? Smith, District 45
Delegate Alice Cain, District 30A
Delegate Emily Shetty, District 18
Delegate Wanika Fisher, District 27C
Delegate Carol Krimm, District 3A
Delegate Edith Patterson, District 28
Delegate Curt Anderson, District 43
Delegate Michelle Guyton, District 42B
Delegate Nick Mosby, District 40
Delegate Tony Bridges, District 41
Delegate Terri Hill, District 12
Delegate Pat Young, District 448
Delegate Veronica Turner, District 26
Delegate Eric Luedtke, District 14
Delegate Talmadge Branch, District 45