The Spire Series
2025/2026 Season
Welcome to The Spire Series! You can explore our 2025/2026 season below.
We are committeed to building community through the presentation of extraordinary performances in one of Baltimore's most beautiful sacred spaces - the sanctuary of First & Franklin. The series features local, national, and international musicians and includes both free and ticketed concerts.
Please consider becoming a donor by clicking the button below.
Your generous donation allows us to present top-tier arts programs at First & Franklin and the ability to offer free tickets for the entire community to most of our concerts. Your donation also provides education opportunities for students, including from the Baltimore School for the Arts.
Sunday, December 14, 2025 | 4:00p
Candlelight Choral Concert
No Tickets Required | Free-will Donations Accepted
The Sanctuary Choir of First & Franklin presents the annual Candlelight Choral Concert, filled with seasonal songs and carols. Conducted by Jason Kissel, we will be joined by harpist Jacqueline Pollauf.
Friday, March 20, 2026 | 7:30p
Canadian Brass
Tickets Required
With an international reputation as one of the most popular brass ensembles today, Canadian Brass has truly earned the distinction of “the world’s most famous brass group.” More than just an ensemble, Canadian Brass seeks to bring the sound and excitement of brass music to new audiences. Masters of concert presentation, they have a uniquely engaging stage presence and rapport with audiences. Each concert showcases their full range—from Baroque and Dixieland to newly commissioned works—served up with a mix of formal classical presentation, lively dialogue, and theatrical effects.
Friday, April 10, 2026 | 7:30p
Laura Strickling, soprano | Joy Schreier, piano
Carrie Bean, cello
No Tickets Required | Free-will Donations Accepted
Two-time GRAMMY® award nominee for Best Classical Vocal Solo Album, soprano Laura Strickling was recognized by The New York Times for her, “flexible voice, crystalline diction, and warm presence.” Celebrated for her work in art song with an emphasis on new additions to the canon, she has been featured twice in Classical Singer Magazine for commissioning and recording new music, curated The New Music Shelf Anthology of Contemporary Art Songs for Soprano, and recently announced The 40@40 Project – her personal initiative to commission new music.
Pianist Joy Schreier is in high demand as a collaborative artist and is featured on the GRAMMY-nominated album Confessions with Laura Strickling. Joy is praised by Plácido Domingo as an “orchestra at the piano” and hailed by Opera News as a “superbly emotive pianist [that] wrings every nuance out.”
Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 7:00p
BSA Armstrong Honors Recital
No Tickets Required | Free-will Donations Accepted
The Baltimore School for the Arts Armstrong Honors Recital is a celebratory concert featuring rising stars. This annual concert, showcasing select members of the graduating class of 2026, is named for one of Baltimore’s great educators and BSA founder, Margaret Armstrong.
The concert coincides with a display of art from students of Joe Giordano at the Baltimore School for the Arts.
Musicians TBA
Sunday, June 7, 2026 | 3:00p
Prelude to Pride Concert & Art Auction
A Benefit for AIDS Action Baltimore
No Tickets Required | Free-will Donations Accepted
All proceeds from this concert & art auction support the work of AIDS Action Baltimore.
Concert details TBA.
Previous Concerts 2025-2026
Tuesday, September 30, 2025 | 7:30p
Trio Sirènes
Trio Sirènes, comprised of flutist Marcia McHugh, violist Karin Brown and harpist Jacqueline Pollauf, enjoys pushing boundaries and highlighting the diverse sonic possibilities of their wind, string and percussion instruments. With performers drawn from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Trio Sirènes seeks to create innovative programs by presenting standard repertoire, works by contemporary composers, and transcriptions from earlier time periods.
Friday, October 24, 2025 | 7:30p
Mark Markham, piano
Program: The Roaring Twenties: The Genius of Youth
Friday, November 14, 2025 | 7:30p
Palaver Strings
Program: Port City
No Tickets Required | Free-will Donations Accepted
Port City explores tango music throughout the genre’s history, and features bandoneon visionary Heyni Solera as soloist and composer. This performance will celebrate tango’s ongoing evolution and the powerful interplay between music and dance, as well as how the genre is being reclaimed by marginalized identities.
Previous Concerts 2024-2025
Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 | 7:30p
Ann Street Trio
Program & More Information
Friday, Nov. 8, 2024 | 7:30p
SARAH CHALFY, soprano
MICHAEL SHEPPARD, piano
Program & More Information
Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 | 4:00p
Candlelight Choral Concert
Program & More Information
Friday, Mar. 14, 2025 | 7:30p
Giorgio Buttitta, guitar
Program & More Information
Friday, Apr. 25, 2025 | 7:30p
Chanticleer
Program & More Information
Thursday, May 22, 2025 | 7:00p
BSA Armstrong Honors Recital
Sunday, Jun. 1 | 3:00p
Prelude to Pride Concert
Tin Pan Alley Alive!
David Giardina, vocalist | Paul Bisaccia, piano
Become a Spire Series Donor
Your generous donation allows us to present top-tier arts programs at First & Franklin and the ability to offer free tickets for the entire community to most of our concerts. Your donation also provides education opportunities for students, including from the Baltimore School for the Arts.
Stay Informed
Your generous donation allows us to present top-tier arts programs at First & Franklin and the ability to offer free tickets for the entire community to most of our concerts. Your donation also provides education opportunities for students, including from the Baltimore School for the Arts.