OrchKids Founding Donor and BSO Life Director, Rheda Becker is our first #strongwoman for this #womenshistorymonth // OrchKids would not be here today if it weren’t for the generosity of Rheda Becker and Robert Meyerhoff, who have given the largest donation in OrchKids’ history to help fund the development of this unique program created by Maestra Marin Alsop. Rheda has a long history with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, having served as the narrator and host of more than 1500 education and family concerts for 42 years. She is recognized as one of the outstanding professionals in the art of the musical narrator and has performed with symphony orchestras throughout the U.S, including The Cleveland Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the LA Phil.
She has served on the faculty of the Peabody Conservatory, where she taught courses in Liberal Arts for International Students, English diction for Singers and Public Speaking. She delights in the fact that she has performed regularly with two of her former students, who are now members of the BSO: Qing Li, who is Principal Second Violin and Dariusz Skoraczewski, Principal Cello.
Community service has been an important part of her life. She serves on the board of Teach For America, on the Board of Overseers of the Baltimore School for the Arts, and on the Peabody Institute Advisory Board. OrchKids has a special place in her heart. “It is thrilling to watch our Orchkids flourish in this transformational program. I love to see them become empowered to actualize their dreams.”