Strathmore (Maryland) facts for kids
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| Address | 5301 Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda, Maryland United States |
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| Public transit |  Washington Metro at Grosvenor–Strathmore |
| Type | Concert hall |
| Capacity | Music Center: 1,976 Amp: 250 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | February 2005 |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Architect | William Rawn Associates Grimm and Parker |
Strathmore is a special place for arts and culture in North Bethesda, Maryland, USA. It started in 1981 and has two main parts: the Mansion and the Music Center.
Many different groups perform here. You can see shows by the Strathmore Hall Foundation, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and the National Philharmonic. Other groups like Levine Music and City Dance also perform.
The Strathmore arts complex is easy to get to. A special walkway connects it to the Grosvenor-Strathmore Washington Metro station. This means people from Washington, D.C. and northern Montgomery County, Maryland can visit easily.
Contents
About Strathmore
Monica Jeffries Hazangeles is the President and CEO of Strathmore. Since 1983, over 5,000 artists have performed here. More than 2 million visitors have enjoyed art shows, concerts, and outdoor events.
Some cool past events include the first National Kaleidoscope Exhibition. Strathmore also hosted the world premiere of the Rhodes-Nadler Art Collection. The Music Center opened in 2005. People said it was "the best place to hear an orchestra" in the Washington area.
Places to See and Things to Do
- The Mansion at Strathmore is on 11 acres of land. It's a beautiful old house built in 1899. This mansion hosts smaller concerts and art shows. You can also visit the Strathmore Tea Room and the Shop at Strathmore. This was the first part of Strathmore to open.
The Mansion has a music room with 100 seats. It's called the Dorothy M. and Maurice C. Shapiro Music room. Here, you can hear chamber music, jazz, and folk music. There's even a very old piano from 1850. In the summer, you can enjoy free outdoor concerts. There's also a Backyard Theater for Children.
Strathmore's art shows bring in many visitors. Each year, there are over two dozen exhibitions. These shows feature local artists and works from famous museums. The Gudelsky Gallery Suite has four galleries. It's a unique art space in Montgomery County. There's also a Sculpture Garden with art winding through the 11-acre property.
The Mansion was designed by Appleton P. Clark, Jr. It was built in 1902 as a summer home. Later, it became a permanent home for the Corby family. After Mrs. Corby passed away, it became a convent and school. In 1979, Montgomery County bought the property. After a lot of work, Strathmore opened its doors in 1983.
- The Music Center at Strathmore is a large concert hall. It has 1,976 seats and opened in February 2005. This center was built with money from the state, county, and private donations. It's a modern place for all kinds of music.
The Music Center is home to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Other groups like the National Philharmonic also perform here. They offer over 150 performances each year. Plus, there are more than 75 music and art classes every week.
The building was designed by William Rawn Associates Architects. Experts helped make sure the sound was perfect. Tim Smith from The Baltimore Sun called it a "first-class space for music-making."
Building Design and Sound
The Music Center has a wavy roof that follows the shape of the concert hall. It looks like the rolling hills around Strathmore. The building is 190,000 square feet. It fits right into the 11-acre park-like area.
The outside of the building is made of German limestone. It has big glass walls. The main lobby has a six-story glass wall. It opens to the Trawick Terrace, which looks out over the Strathmore campus.
The concert hall is shaped like a "shoebox." This is a classic design for good sound. Above the stage, there are 43 panels that can move. They help adjust the sound for the best clarity. Curtains and banners can also be used to change how the sound travels.
The Education Center is on the other side of the building. It has four big rehearsal rooms. One is a dance studio with a special floor. There are also rooms with 40-foot high ceilings. This part of the building also has a children's music classroom. There are nine smaller rooms for practice.
Strathmore's History
Strathmore started as an old mansion in 1983. It hosted small concerts and art shows. Over 20 years ago, people started planning for a bigger Music Center. In 1985, Strathmore's leaders began talking about needing more space.
In 1996, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra wanted a second home. They joined Strathmore to help create the Music Center. In 1998, the county and state approved money for the project. Building work began in 2001.
Strathmore Hall Foundation manages the Music Center and Mansion every day. Many people donated money to help build and run the Music Center.
- Gudelsky Concert Pavilion and Gazebo is for outdoor shows.
- Outdoor Sculpture Garden has 23 sculptures. These artworks were made by local and national artists.
Sculptures at Strathmore
On the Bou Family Terrace, you can see "Tetra Con Brio." This huge sculpture is 12 feet tall and weighs 4,500 pounds. It was made by Roger W. Stoller. The statue honors Benjamin O'Brien, who started Music & Arts Centers.
Artist in Residence Program
Strathmore has a special program called Artist in Residence (AIR). It helps young artists start their professional careers. Since 2005, the program has helped 58 musicians. They are usually between 16 and 32 years old.
Each year, six artists are chosen for the program. They get help from mentor musicians. They also learn important skills for their careers. The artists get many chances to perform during the 10-month program.
Some artists who have been part of the program include:
- Joey Antico
- Christylez Bacon
- Simone Baron
- Owen Danoff
- Ethan Foote
- Calista Garcia
- Chelsey Green
- Seán Heely
- Amadou Kouyate
- Patrick McAvinue
- Ines Nassara
- Piotr Pakhomkin
- Dante’ Pope
- Eliot Seppa
- Trey Sorrells
- Anjali Taneja
- Chris Urquiaga
- Frédéric Yonnet
See also
- List of concert halls
- List of music museums
