The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra turned 100 this year, but set in motion one part of its centennial celebration 25 years ago.
In 1991, the BSO handed out coupons at youth concerts that could be redeemed for a free seat at any upcoming performance ... in 2016.
"We thought they could grow up with the BSO and keep us in their lives," said Kaila Willard, the symphony's marketing and public relations manager.
Who keeps a piece of paper a quarter of a century, or rather knows where to find it after all those years?
"My father held on to it for 25 years," said Ryan Dorsey, 35, a Mayfield resident who was just elected city councilman for Baltimore's 3rd District. In his non-political life, Dorsey, who studied violin at the Baltimore School for the Arts and graduated from Peabody Conservatory with a bachelor's in music composition, is a project manager at Soundscape, the audio-video sales and installation business started by his grandfather in 1930.
"He kept it in a frame to make sure he knew where it was. He had never mentioned it to me," he said.
Dorsey's dad, John Dorsey, decided to turn it in so that Ryan could attend Friday night's concert and bought a second ticket as well for Ryan's girlfriend, Erin Fostel.
(We interrupt this story for a cute side story: Fostel, an artist, turned 35 on Sunday, one day after he did. They were born a day apart at Sinai Hospital, and their mothers were in the recovery room together.)
Apparently, John Dorsey is not the only person who has managed to hang on to that BSO coupon and redeem it 25 years later. Willard said about 20 people have shown up with their coupons and gotten free seats.
Willard said current staff couldn't seem to find anyone still on board who knew much about the program, or how many coupons might have been handed out. If you have one stuffed in a drawer or under a dusty pile of old receipts and such, you better hurry: the final BSO concert this year is Nov. 20.