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The Madison Symphony Orchestra’s Education and Community Engagement Programs are made available for free or at a low cost to participants, but they are not free for us to present! To learn how you or your company/ organization can support these and other MSO programs, please contact Casey Oelkers, Director of Development, at (608) 260-8680 x228.

UP CLOSE & MUSICAL®

Up Close & Musical® has been bringing classical music into the classrooms of elementary schools throughout Dane County for over twenty years! During school visits, individual string quartet members of the Hunt Quartet visit separate classrooms to conduct exciting and interactive lessons that send students on a hunt for the concepts of melody, rhythm, expression, and form. They then demonstrate these concepts in a performance for the whole school. At the end of the school year all of the participating schools are invited to attend Symphony Soup, the capstone concert of the program. At this culminating concert, the Hunt Quartet is featured among a full symphony orchestra. The Hunt Quartet is comprised of UW-Madison graduate performance majors Ava Shadmani (violin), Rachel Reese (violin), Fabio Saggin (viola), and Alex Chambers-Ozasky (cello). 2019–2020 Participating Schools are Franklin Elementary (Madison), Lapham Elementary (Madison), Shorewood Elementary (Madison), Thoreau Elementary (Madison), Eagle Point Elementary (DeForest), and Sandhill Elementary (Stoughton).

We are excited that through grants and generous donations we will be able to double the Up Close & Musical program from six schools served to twelve schools served, starting in the 2020-2021 school year! We will be adding another string quartet to the program to accomplish this goal. This will allow every student attending Symphony Soup to receive Up Close & Musical in their school, as preparation for the concert. We also plan to add a narrator and perhaps other characters to the concert, refine visuals, and solidify the repertoire performed. Symphony Soup is planned over a year in advance and has been nearly filled a year in advance in the past two years.

The primary purpose of Up Close & Musical and Symphony Soup is to provide an introduction and foundation of musical concepts to students in their first years of school. This foundation is meant to support what students are already learning in the general music classroom and what they are expected to achieve according to the National Core Arts Standards and Wisconsin Standards for Music.

The Hunt Quartet is funded through a partnership between the Madison Symphony Orchestra and the Mead Witter School of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with major funding from David and Kato Perlman, the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and other donors. Up Close & Musical is a program of the Madison Symphony Orchestra.

Major funding for Up Close & Musical provided by Madison Symphony Orchestra League, John and Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation, Inc., and An Anonymous Friend. Additional funding provided by The Brittingham Fund, Inc., Marc Vitale and Darcy Kind, and the Wisconsin Arts Board. Wisconsin Arts Board comes with additional funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Major funding for Symphony Soup provided by Madison Symphony Orchestra League and John and Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation, Inc. Additional funding provided by Dane Arts, The Evjue Foundation, Inc., the charitable arm of The Capital Times, Veridian Foundation, William J. and Joyce F. Wartmann Fund, An Anonymous Friend, Vogel Bros. Building Co., Woodman’s Food Markets, and the Wisconsin Arts Board. Dane Arts comes with additional funds from the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation, The Evjue Foundation, Inc., charitable arm of The Capital Times, the W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation, and the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation. Wisconsin Arts Board comes with additional funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION/THE FINAL FORTE

Wednesday, February 26, 6:45 p.m. Overture Hall

Join the excitement as the four finalists of the 2020 Bolz Young Artist Competition compete for top honors in Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte with Kyle Knox and the MSO! The concert is free and open to the public, and will be broadcast live on PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio. Concert reservations can be made online at madisonsymphony.org/ finalforte or by calling the MSO office at (608) 257-3734. The two winners of The Final Forte will perform the following day for an audience of their peers at the MSO’s 2020 Spring Young People’s Concert.

Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte concert and broadcasts are the result of a historic partnership among the Madison Symphony Orchestra, PBS Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Public Radio. Major funding provided by Diane Ballweg, Stephen Morton, W. Jerome Frautschi, A. Paul Jones Charitable Trust, Julie and Larry Midtbo, Fred and Mary Mohs, and Elizabeth Olson, with additional funding from Bell Laboratories, James Dahlberg and Elsebet Lund, Kato Perlman, Cyrena and Lee Pondrom, Sentry Insurance Foundation, Darcy Kind and Marc Vitale, Dr. A. Beyer-Mears, Nick and Judith Topitzes, the Focus Fund for Young Performers, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin. Antonio Wu, second place winner of The Final Forte 2019, performs with the Madison Symphony Orchestra.

LINK UP: THE ORCHESTRA SINGS

Thursday, May 21 Capitol Theater, Overture Center (These concerts are not open to the general public)

Invited to become a Link Up partner by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute in 2013, the MSO is now one of over 100 orchestras world-wide to co-present this highly interactive education program. Link Up unites the classroom and the concert hall by giving students in grades 3 through 5 the opportunity to explore music through a yearlong curriculum of activities, during which they learn to play some of classical music’s most famous melodies on the soprano recorder.

During the culminating concert, students will bring their recorders to Overture Center to play, sing, and move with the MSO during Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” “Simple Gifts,” and other works. During the 2019 –2020 season, 1,500 students from 25 schools are participating in the MSO’s Link Up Program. Learn more at madisonsymphony.org/linkup.

The Madison Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to providing outstanding educational and community engagement opportunities throughout south-central Wisconsin. Reaching over 25,000 children and adults each year, we engage music enthusiasts of all ages and abilities through our partnerships with schools, community centers, and assisted living facilities. Join us as we embark on a journey to enrich, engage and inspire! Discover more: madisonsymphony.org/ education

CONCERT ON THE GREEN

Monday, June 15, 2020 Bishops Bay Country Club Concert on the Green returns for its 26th year! Come and enjoy an evening concert on the shores of Lake Mendota, with lawn reception and picnic dinner, plus an optional golf outing during the day.

The concert will feature one of the 2020 Bolz Young Artist Competition winners. All proceeds benefit our Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement Programs. These programs significantly impact more than 25,000 individuals throughout Wisconsin each year.

There are several ways for MSOL members and friends to be involved: •  Join the COG 2020 Committee •  Work on the day of the event, either with golf registration or evening hospitality and raffle •  Become an event sponsor ($500 and upwards) •  Create a golf foursome and enjoy a day with friends on the Bishops Bay Country Club golf course •  At a minimum, attend with your spouse and/or friend. Consider reserving a table for eight! No matter how you participate, you will have a fairytale experience! For more information, please contact committee chairs, Bob Dinndorf or Nick Mischler: bdinndorf@gmail.com or nicholas.mischler@gmail.com Please visit www.madisonsymphony.org/cog in March to purchase tickets or a table. SEE YOU ON JUNE 15TH!

PARTIES OF NOTE

The MSOL’s Passport to Parties of Note is available both online and in Passport format with exciting offerings: tours of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, the historic Governor’s Mansion, and historic home areas, plus hands-on work with glass art — and more. Online reservations have quickly filled some of the events, but a waiting list is maintained in the event of cancellations. Do enjoy MSOL’s fund- and friend-raising events! Visit madisonsymphony.org/parties for more information.

Greg Zelek and Susan Lee perform during last year’s Soiree of Song Party.

INSTRUMENT RESCUE

A huge thank you to everyone who donated an instrument for the benefit of Madison middle school students in need. Many more young people will be able to experience the joy of music as a result of these donations. When the instruments are all refurbished and distributed to the schools at the completion of the program we will have the final number of instruments donated. We have heard wonderful stories from members who have given a variety of instruments such as drums, guitar, flutes, saxophone, French horn, violin, viola, euphonium, trombone, and clarinet.

Thanks also goes to Madison West Rotary which spearheaded this effort, in connection with the Madison Area Music Association. MSOL was happy to communicate this drive to our membership. Appreciation also goes to WardBrodt, Heid Music, and Greg Ginter’s Guitar shop who offered to repair pro bono instruments donated through the end of 2019. We hope to repeat this drive next fall, if you missed this opportunity to donate an instrument.

2019 SYMPHONY GALA

The Madison Symphony Orchestra League presented Marian Bolz with the John DeMain Award for Outstanding Commitment to Music at this year’s Symphony Gala held Friday, September 13 at The Madison Concourse Hotel. The award recognizes an individual or individuals for their longstanding and unwavering support of the League, the Madison Symphony Orchestra and music in the community.

More than 200 guests enjoyed a memorable and musical evening honoring Marian as a tireless and passionate advocate for the Symphony’s youth education efforts and community outreach. Her dedication and personal commitment of time and talent to our community have been truly extraordinary and have made Madison a better place in many ways.

The Gala, co-chaired by Darcy Kind and Mary Lang Sollinger, generated approximately $63,000 to benefit the MSO’s nationally-recognized Education and Community and Engagement Programs.

Save the date for our 2020 Symphony Gala: Friday, September 18.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Visit madisonsymphony.org/msol to register for, and learn more about, these and other MSOL events: Mid-Winter Luncheon March 12, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Our annual Mid-Winter Luncheon will be held at Nakoma Golf Club with the theme “Serving our Hometown School District with Music: A discussion with Madison Metropolitan School District’s Arts Teacher Leader, Randal Swiggum.” Cost is $25/person. Guests welcome! Behind the Music: Discovery Talk April 30, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Join Madison Symphony Chorus Director Beverly Taylor at the home of Ledell Zellers & Simon Anderson ahead of the MSO’s May concert weekend, Piano Power, featuring pianist Yefim Bronfman. The evening will also feature a social hour with wine and hors d’oeuvres. Free for all MSOL members. Spring Luncheon and Annual Meeting May 14, 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

All MSOL members and guests are invited to the Spring Luncheon and Annual Meeting at Maple Bluff Country Club. Lunch will be served, followed by a musical presentation by one of the Final Forte Finalists and business meeting.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Christine Beatty Barbara and Norman Berven Barbara Brown Susan Katherine Byram Larry and Mary Kay Burton Colleen Chase Stephen Crocker Linda Hogle Susan Lee and Paul Vincent Jobst Gundega Kosrts Genvieve Murtaugh Mary and Richard Rehberg Barbara and Richard Schnell Jacqui Shanda Kelly A Thompson-Frater Karen Sue and Jerome Wallander Lynette Kay Fons and Bernard H. White

Part of the Madison community since 1956, the Madison Symphony Orchestra League (MSOL) Is an organization of more than 350 members committed to supporting the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s artistic, financial and educational mission. Discover more: madisonsymphony.org/ msol

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: BMO HARRIS BANK

A history of partnership with BMO Harris Bank

Each season, the Madison Symphony Orchestra relies on generous financial support from companies, individuals, and organizations who share our belief that great music is for everyone. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight one of our valued corporate giving partners, BMO Harris Bank, who is sponsoring our upcoming May Piano Power concerts. BMO has partnered with the Madison Symphony Orchestra for over 20 years to help us present our subscription concert season.

With a long history of serving customers in Madison and throughout the state of Wisconsin, BMO is a bank committed to putting their purpose to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life into action. In addition to providing customers with a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services, BMO is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and is dedicated to helping their community partners achieve sustainable solutions to create a brighter future.

My planned gift will support the MSO’s educational initiatives, which provide children with an exciting introduction to the symphony orchestra. Elizabeth A. Conklin “

“Giving back to the communities we serve is not just the right thing to do, it’s an essential part of our culture, the very fabric of our organization here at BMO,” wrote David Casper, U.S. Chief Executive Officer, BMO Financial Group in their Spring 2019 Community Impact Review.

BMO Harris Bank donated $18 million to over 900 non-profit organizations in 2018.

“At BMO, we understand that the performing arts can have a significant and positive impact on communities,” said Jeff Ticknor, Group Managing Director for Commercial Banking, Wisconsin, BMO Harris Bank, and a member of the Madison Symphony Orchestra Board. “We are proud to partner with the Madison Symphony Orchestra to bring high quality concerts to audiences in Madison and beyond.”

We at the Madison Symphony Orchestra are grateful for BMO’s contributions this season including underwriting for A Madison Symphony Christmas in December 2019 and the Piano Power concerts in May 2020. We look forward to partnering with BMO again next season and beyond. Please join us in thanking BMO for their support!

Photo by Amandalynn Jones

For more information or to plan your gift to the MSO, contact Casey Oelkers at 608-260-8680 x228 or coelkers@madisonsymphony.org.

MEET OUR NEW STAFF MEMBER

We are pleased to introduce Leah Schultz as our new Manager of Grants and Corporate Giving. Working in the Madison music world for nearly a decade, Leah brings much knowledge of the local arts scene to her new role at the MSO. “I am so excited to be serving the amazing audience, donors, and musicians of the Madison Symphony Orchestra!” Leah said. Please join us in giving Leah a warm welcome!

BACH AROUND THE CLOCK

Sat. Mar. 28 St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Come enjoy the music of J.S. Bach at this annual community celebration. This 12-hour event is free and open to the public. Selected musicians and ensembles will give a preview performance on Sun. Mar. 1, starting at 12:30 pm on the Sunday Afternoon Live from the Chazen concert series. The festival program includes solo keyboard works, violin sonatas, Cantatas (including the Coffee Cantata!), Chorales, and more; this festival gives everyone in the community, from beginners to college students, faculty, amateurs, and professionals alike (including many members of the Madison Symphony), with everything from a viola da gamba ensemble to a saxophone ensemble, the chance to celebrate the 335th birthday of this sublime composer. Learn more at bachclock.com.

JUST BACH CONCERTS

Weds. Mar. 25, Apr. 15, May 20 Luther Memorial Church

This series of free midday concerts features Bach Cantatas, instrumental solos and chamber music, performed one-ona-part on period instruments. The series enjoyed a successful launch last year, and continues this year as part of the Music at Midday series at Luther Memorial. MSO violinist Leanne League and MSO violist Marika Fischer Hoyt are among the players. Learn more at justbach.org.

MADISON AREA HANDBELL CHOIR

Fri. May 15 & Sat. May 16

Led by music director and MSO percussionist Nicholas Bonaccio, the Madison Area Concert Handbells (MACH), are excited to announce their Spring 2020 concerts entitled MACH Radio. Now in their 22nd year of musical service to the region, MACH is an auditioned community handbell choir that performs on over six octaves of handbells and seven octaves of handchimes, the largest assemblage of such instruments in Wisconsin. Join the choir for a varied program of music that one might hear while surfing through radio stations, with works by artists ranging from Ludwig Van Beethoven and Dave Brubeck to Taylor Swift and Michael Jackson. Concert times, venues and other information can be found at madisonhandbells.org.

ANCORA STRING QUARTET & FRIENDS

Sat. May 23 First Unitarian Society

Celebrate spring with Appalachian Spring, in Copland’s original chamber version for 13 players, and stay for the popular Piano Quintet in E-flat Major. The Ancora String Quartet, with MSO violinists Wes Luke and Robin Ryan, and MSO violist Marika Fischer Hoyt, and cellist Benjamin Whitcomb, will be joined by violinists Suzanne Beia and Laura Burns, violist Christopher Dozoryst, cellist Mark Bridges, bassist David Scholl, flutist Linda Pereksta, clarinetist Kai-Ju Ho, bassoonist Cindy Cameron-Fix, and pianist Jess Salek. Learn more at ancoraquartet.com.

CON VIVO!... MUSIC WITH LIFE

Sat. June 6 First Congregational Church

con vivo!… music with life celebrates Beethoven’s 250th birthday with a concert of his chamber music! Tickets at the door: $20/$15 students/seniors. MSO members include violinists Olga Pomolova and Kathryn Taylor, Janse Vincent on viola, Maggie Darby Townsend, cello and Dan Lyons, pianist. Learn more at convivomusicwithlife.org.

STEPHANIE JUTT PERFORMS IN CUBA

Principal flutist Stephanie Jutt has recently returned from her second musical engagement in Havana, Cuba, where she performed a recital by American composers at the Oratorio San Felipe Neri and taught masterclasses at the preeminent Conservatorio Roldan. Stephanie was joined by New York Philharmonic flutist Mindy Kaufman and expert repairman, Phil Unger, of the Flute Center of New York. The three brought much needed instrumental repair supplies, sheet music and a lot of goodwill to the brilliant young flutists of Havana.

THE MIRACLE continued from pg. 4 by John DeMain

After intermission, we have assembled a massive orchestra to play one of the great Strauss tone poems, Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life, in translation). The hero is none other than Strauss himself, and his relationship with music, his critics, and his other works, many of which are quoted in this work. His wife is also represented with extended violin solos. These works are virtuosic for the orchestra, and make extreme and exciting demands from the players. Often sonically thrilling and lyrically beautiful, Strauss’s tone poems are a wonder of orchestral writing, thrilling for both players and conductor to perform, and dazzling to the ears of the audience. Don’t miss this Marchfest of great German music.

PIANO POWER continued from pg. 6 by John DeMain

Because of the symphonic largesse of the Brahms first piano concerto, we will play it after the intermission. The work went through several incarnations before it ended up as the brilliant piano concerto that we all know and love. Both the Stravinsky and the Brahms will be celebratory and exciting, and, I hope, a deeply satisfying conclusion to our 2019/20 season.

As always, the musicians and I want to thank you for your part, the audience, without whom we would not exist, but together we can experience the beauty of live large orchestra performances of great music in our beautiful temple of music, Overture Hall.

UPCOMING EVENTS / NEWS & STORIES

MADISON LINKS BRINGS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO CHRISTMAS CONCERT

On Sunday, December 15, 2019, the Madison Metropolitan Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, partnered with the Madison Symphony Orchestra Board to give guests from diverse Madison communities an opportunity to come to the Overture Center to enjoy A Madison Symphony Christmas. Members of the MSO Board provided 110 complimentary tickets for this event. Organizations which received the tickets include the One City Learning Center, the Mt. Zion Junior Missionaries, the Mt. Zion Academic Learning Center, and families from other local African-American churches as well as individuals from other social institutions. Jacqueline Rodman and Marilyn Ruffin gave a docent presentation for the attendees, after which they participated in caroling in the Rotunda lobby prior to the concert. A reception followed in the Promenade Lobby. The Links, Incorporated, is one of the oldest and largest of predominately African-American, not-for-profit, service organizations in the nation and the Madison Chapter is committed to education, civic, and intercultural programs and projects for K-12 students. Learn more about them at madisonlinks.wordpress.com.

STAR WARS LIVE IN CONCERT

Saturday, May 30 | Overture Hall

Audiences will have the opportunity to travel through time to “a galaxy far, far away” experiencing Star Wars like never before. This concert features the full-length iconic film Star Wars: A New Hope accompanied by the Madison Symphony Orchestra performing John Williams’ thrilling and Academy Award-winning musical score. Learn more and buy tickets at overture.org/events/ star-wars-live.

FIND OUT MORE ONLINE!

Get the latest details about our upcoming concerts, performances, and events, 24/7 on your computer, tablet or mobile phone: madisonsymphony.org/calendar.

With a mission to produce high-quality performances and to educate and entertain audiences of all ages, the Madison Symphony Orchestra enters its 95th season in 2020–2021. Hailed as a “gifted orchestra builder” by The New York Times, Music Director John DeMain has grown the Symphony into one of America’s leading regional orchestras, enriching the cultural and educational environment of Madison and the surrounding area with exquisite performances of the great masterworks and top-tier guest artists from around the world.

In addition, our Education and Community Engagement Programs bring the joy of music to more than 25,000 children and adults annually. These programs are consistently recognized by national funding agencies including the National Endowment for the Arts, the League of American Orchestras and the Society for the Arts in Healthcare.

As a resident company of the Overture Center for the Arts, we call Overture Hall home to all Madison Symphony Orchestra concerts and Overture Concert Organ performances, as well as our majestic Klais organ. Joined by the world’s leading guest artists, we are proud to present performances designed to delight your ears and deliver and acoustical experience unlike any other in this world-class concert hall.

We invite you explore this page and all the ways you can experience the magic of the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and learn more by visiting our website at madisonsymphony.org.

MSO TICKET INFORMATION

BUY SINGLE TICKETS Single tickets for 2019–2020 Symphony concerts and Overture Concert Organ performances are available at madisonsymphony.org and through the Overture Center Box Office. Symphony Single tickets for 2019–2020 season concerts are $19–$95. Seniors (62 and over) and students save 20% in select seating areas, and students can purchase up to two $15 or $20 Student Rush tickets on the day of the concert at the Overture Center Box Office. Discounts are subject to availability and cannot be combined. Organ All tickets to any 2019–2020 Overture Concert Organ performance are just $20. Students can purchase up to two $10 Student Rush tickets on the day of the concert at the Overture Center Box Office. Discounts are subject to availability and cannot be combined. GROUP RATES Groups of 10 or more receive a 25% discount for MSO concerts and a 10% discount for Organ performances. 2019–2020 group rate tickets start at just $13.50. Call (608) 257-3734 x222 or visit madisonsymphony.org/groups. SYMPHONY SUBSCRIPTIONS 2020–2021 subscriptions are available now! New subscribers save up to 50% off single ticket prices, and get the best seats before single tickets go on sale Saturday, August 15, 2020. If you’re already part of our subscriber family, renew by May 7 to keep your seats. Learn more about the season on the back page of this publication or at madisonsymphony.org/20-21.

CONTACT

Madison Symphony Orchestra Administrative Office 222 W. Washington Ave., Suite 460 Madison, WI 53703 Subscriptions/Info: (608) 257-3734 info@madisonsymphony.org madisonsymphony.org Overture Center Box Office 201 State St. Madison, WI 53703 Single Tickets: (608) 258-4141 Ticket Office Hours: Mon. – Fri., 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sat. 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Additional hours on Sunday event days. overturecenter.org

The SCORE is published three to four times per concert season for members and friends of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. Subscribe to the print and/or the online edition at madisonsymphony.org/ score

Editor: Amanda Dill Creative Director: Peter Rodgers Design: Bob Marshall

Contributing Writers: Cathy Buege Janet Cabot John DeMain Amanda Dill Lisa Kjentvet Casey Oelkers Jacqueline Rodman Leah Schultz Kathryn Schwarzmann Greg Zelek

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