ENRICHING LIVES with musi c
Join
us in celebrating
the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s Centennial Season!
As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Madison Symphony Orchestra, we are more committed than ever to serving our community through our Education and Community Engagement Programs. Our mission is to enrich lives through transformative musical experiences that ignite a passion for music, to engage with our community through meaningful partnerships that foster belonging, and to inspire lifelong musical journeys sparked by curiosity. We invite you to join us on a journey to enrich, engage, and inspire!
After three decades as a music teacher, I am still contacted by students who remember experiences such as those MSO helps to create. Many are still musicians themselves, but others are enthusiastic consumers of music and frequent audience members in live music venues.
– Music Educator
Award-Winning Education & Community Engagement Programs
Madison Symphony Orchestra Education Programs bring the valuable experience of classical music to youth and adults in our community — both inside and outside of the concert hall. Our Community Engagement Programs connect with music lovers of all ages to offer the opportunity for more people to experience the joy and healing power of music.
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Education Programs
We loved the visits! The students were SO engaged with all of our visitors. The Hunt Quartet is amazing with this age group.”
– Up Close & Muscial Partner
The MSO’s award-winning Education Programs reach thousands of young people each year. From concerts to competitions to master classes and more, our partnerships with local schools build the foundation for students to have a life-long relationship with music.
Guest Artist Outreach
Up Close & Musical®
The MSO’s nationally recognized Up Close & Musical program has been bringing the power and beauty of classical music into elementary school classrooms since 1999! As teaching artists, the Hunt Quartet visits each partner school four times during the school year to conduct exciting and interactive lessons that send students on a hunt for the concepts of expression, melody, rhythm, and form. Each visit begins with individual classroom instruction and concludes with a mini-concert by the string quartet for all participating classrooms. At the end of the school year all partner schools attend the culminating Symphony Soup Concert to experience the full orchestra! The curriculum is guided by academic standards for music and is designed for students in grades K–3 throughout Dane County. This program is offered at no charge to participating schools thanks to generous donor support.
An encounter with a famous musician can be a turning point in the life of a young musician. The MSO is proud to bring world-class musicians and conductors into schools and arts organizations to work with students of all ages. Conversations with the artist, master classes, clinics, and workshops have connected many guest artists with young musicians from elementary to university levels. These master classes are offered free of charge to participating community partners and are open to the public.
Young Artist Competitions
Topitzes Family Fall Youth Concerto Competition
Saturday, September 13, 2025
The Topitzes Family Fall Youth Concerto Competition is open to Wisconsin students in grades 3–8 who play strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, or piano. The winner of the competition performs with the MSO for an audience of their peers during the Fall Youth Concerts and receives a scholarship to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Summer Music Clinic.
Bolz Young Artist Competition
Preliminary Round — Saturday, January 3, 2026
Semi-Final Round — Thursday, January 8, 2026
The Final Forte — Wednesday, March 4, 2026
The Bolz Young Artist Competition is a highly regarded statewide competition open to Wisconsin students in grades 9–12 who play strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, or piano. Four finalists are selected through two intensive rounds of competition to perform with the MSO in Overture Hall in the third round, which is broadcast live as “Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte” in partnership with PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio. All four finalists receive scholarships. The secondplace winner receives the Steenbock Youth Music Award. The first-place winner of the competition receives the Marian Bolz Prize for Distinguished Musical Achievement and performs with the MSO for an audience of their peers during the Spring Young People’s Concert.
Performing with a professional orchestra has been a lifelong dream of mine, and this experience exceeded all my expectations.
– Vivian Van de Sype Cucu , Bolz Young Artist Competition Finalist
Young People’s Concerts
Fall Youth Concerts
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
9:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Run time: 55 minutes
The Fall Youth Concert was perfect in every way for my students!!!
– Music Educator
Overture Hall, Overture Center for the Arts
The Fall Youth Concerts are designed to introduce students in grades 4-8 to classical music and the full symphony orchestra. These themed, multidimensional performances include visual images, introductions to compositions, and an inspiring performance by the winner of the MSO’s annual Topitzes Family Fall Youth Concerto Competition. Our Docent Program allows schools to request visits by MSO musicians and MSO League members to prepare students for the concert experience. This program introduces the music and composers in fun and engaging ways and is offered at no additional charge to schools registered for the concert.
Spring Young People’s Concert
Thursday, March 5, 2026
10:00 a.m.
Run time: 70 minutes
Overture Hall, Overture Center for the Arts
The Spring Young People’s Concert creates memorable musical experiences for students in grades 6–12. The corresponding Spring Young People’s Concert Curriculum Guide gets students thinking more deeply about the musical selections in advance, creating a richer concert experience for them. The Spring Young People’s Concert is designed to model a typical orchestral concert experience but includes learning supplements such as a visual component and an inspiring performance by the winner of the MSO’s annual Bolz Young Artist Competition.
The Spring Young People’s Concert was a perfect, engaging, inspiring opportunity for my students, and one of our very favorite events of the year.
Our students had a blast and were very engaged at the performance. One student who would never have seen an orchestra was absolutely bouncing out of her seat after every piece because she was so excited. It literally brought me to tears.
– Music Educator
Symphony Soup
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
Run time: 40 minutes
Capitol Theater, Overture Center for the Arts
Symphony Soup is the culminating concert event for the Up Close & Musical® in-school residency program and is open to all elementary schools. In addition to solidifying the concepts taught by the Hunt Quartet through the Up Close & Musical curriculum, these concerts are designed to get students in grades K–3 excited about classical music and the symphony orchestra. Short excerpts are selected from orchestral favorites.
Link Up
Thursday, May 21, 2026
10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
Run time: 55 minutes
Capitol Theater, Overture Center for the Arts
In partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, the MSO is thrilled to present the Link Up program, designed for students in grades 3–5. Through the yearlong curriculum of this highly participatory program, students learn to sing and play the recorder in their school classrooms to prepare to perform with the orchestra from their seats at the culminating concert in May. The 2025–2026 season will feature “The Orchestra Sings” Link Up curriculum, which explores how composers create great melodies.
Community Engagement
We are proud to bring world-renowned musicians and conductors into the community to connect with music lovers of all ages and offer the opportunity for more people to experience the joy and healing power of music.
HeartStrings®
The MSO’s internationally recognized HeartStrings program enhances the quality of life for individuals with disabilities through participatory, music therapy-informed sessions led by the Rhapsodie Quartet. This transformative program reaches beyond the concert hall to bring live, interactive presentations into healthcare and residential facilities and schools. The quartet makes monthly visits to our community partners, providing sessions that have demonstrated the powerful impact of music on health and wellness. This program is offered free-of-charge to participating organizations throughout Dane County thanks to generous donor support. HeartStrings has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, the League of American Orchestras/MetLife Foundation, Johnson & Johnson/Society for the Arts in Healthcare, Central Wisconsin Center and the Madison Area Rehabilitation Centers as a model community program.
We LOVE your program and the joy and engagement it brings to people of all ages.
– HeartStrings® Partner
Special Events
Rhapsodie Quartet Recitals
The Rhapsodie Quartet includes Co-Concertmaster Suzanne Beia, violinist Laura Burns, Principal Violist Christopher Dozoryst, and Principal Cellist Karl Lavine. The quartet makes monthly visits to HeartStrings community partners, bringing a full season of activities to residents and caregivers. They also perform recitals that are free and open to the public.
Hunt Quartet Recitals
The Hunt Quartet is the resident string quartet of the MSO’s nationally recognized Up Close & Musical® program, designed to bring the power and beauty of classical music into elementary school classrooms throughout Dane County. The quartet, consisting of violinists Paran Amirinazari and Hillary Hempel, violist Jennifer Paulson, and cellist Trace Johnson, also performs recitals that are free and open to the public.
Music nurtures, soothes, and repairs the soul, and they do just that with every single note they play. We have residents that will NOT attend any other activities EXCEPT for Heartstrings. It is a poignant statement to have four incredibly talented musicians walk into our resident’s home, and show them that they are STILL worthy of the magic that we witness in the outside world every single day. Thank you ALL for continuing the magic.
– HeartStrings® Specialist
MSO at the Movies
MSO at the Movies presents screenings of complete films while the Madison Symphony Orchestra performs the musical score live. Group seating is available.
Disney Pixar’s Toy Story in Concert Live to Film
Sunday, October 5, 2025 2:30 p.m.
Centennial Festival Weekend
During this free, two-day festival celebration on June 13-14, 2026 , MSO musicians and diverse community groups will perform on a rotating schedule throughout Overture Center for the Arts. All performances will be presented free of charge as a gift to the community!
Discover more: madisonsymphony.org/festival
Family Concert
The Family Concert includes pre-concert activities and musical selections that will thrill audiences of all ages! This year’s Family Concert kicks off the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s Centennial Festival Weekend.
Saturday, June 13, 2026 11:00 a.m.
Overture Hall, Overture Center for the Arts
LOVED IT!
The experience of seeing the movie and hearing the symphony onstage at the same time was wonderful!
– Concert Attendee
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark ™ Live In Concert
Saturday, March 28, 2026 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 29, 2026 2:30 p.m.
MSO Concert Activities
Open Rehearsals
Open Rehearsals are a wonderful free opportunity for music lovers of all ages to observe the preparation required for a symphony orchestra concert. Reservations are limited and can be made one month before each Open Rehearsal.
Prelude Discussions
Prelude Discussions are open to all ticket holders and provide insights into the concert repertoire and composers. Discussions are provided for every subscription concert except the MSO Christmas program and take place in Overture Hall one hour before each performance. Learn more: madisonsymphony.org/prelude
Student Rush Tickets
Student Rush Tickets are available to students from age 6 through the university level to experience any MSO performance in Overture Hall for just $15. University students will need a valid student ID, but younger students may simply claim student status at the Overture Center Box Office beginning on the Wednesday before each concert weekend, up until each performance. Students may purchase up to two tickets at these prices and will receive the best seats available at the time of purchase. Discounts cannot be combined. $10 Student Rush tickets are available for Organ performances on the day of each show. Details at madisonsymphony.org/rush
All Ears at the Symphony
All Ears at the Symphony is the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s outreach and ticketing program. Community groups can participate through Overture Center’s Community Ticket Program or through All Ears Before the Symphony, an exclusive pre-concert experience featuring an MSO Musician.
OCT 2025
Education & Community Engagement Concerts
All concerts are performed at the Overture Center for the Arts.
Fall Youth Concerts
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
9:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:00 p.m.
Kyle Knox, Conductor
A cross-curricular youth concert designed for students in grades 4-8
The Final Forte
MAR 2026
MAY 2026
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
6:45 p.m.
John DeMain, Conductor
A free performance featuring four talented high school musicians as they compete in the final round of the Bolz Young Artist Competition with results announced live. Group seating is available
Spring Young People’s Concert
Thursday, March 5, 2026
10:00 a.m.
Kyle Knox, Conductor
An educational concert with accompanying curriculum designed for students in grades 6-12
Symphony Soup Concert
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
10:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m.
Kyle Knox, Conductor
A concert designed for students in grades K-3 and the culminating concert of our Up Close & Musical® program
Link Up Concert
Thursday, May 21, 2026
10:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m.
Randal Swiggum, Conductor
The culminating concert of a yearlong partnership program that invites students in grades 3-5 to sing and play recorder with the orchestra
Tickets for MSO education concerts are $5 per student. Chaperones are free for groups of 10 or more. Subsidized tickets available for qualifying schools, calculated based on Free and Reduced Lunch rates. No physical tickets will be distributed for youth concerts.
Photos: cover (The Final Forte/Link Up/Spring Young People’s Concert), p3 (The Final Forte/Rhapsodie Quartet), p4 (Guest Artist), p5 (Fall Youth Concerts/The Final Forte), p6 (Fall Youth Concerts/Spring Young People’s Concert), p7 (Link Up), p8 (HeartStrings), p9 (Rhapsodie Quartet/Hunt Quartet), p10 (Community Concert/Family Concert), p11 (Open Rehearsal/Prelude Discussion/All Ears), p14 (John DeMain), p15 (Greg Zelek), back (Community Concert): Peter Rodgers; p4 (Up Close & Musical): Lisa Kjentvet; cover (HeartStrings), p2 (Link Up), p4 (Link Up), p6 (Symphony Soup), p7 (Symphony Soup), p8 (HeartStrings), p10 (Star Wars), p11 (Student Rush), p12 (Link Up), p15 (Symphony Soup/Coco in Concert), back (Link Up): Chris Fiol.
2024–2026 Education & Community Engagement Donors
Diane Ballweg
Barbara and Norman Berven
Dr. Annette Beyer-Mears
BMO
Patricia Brady and Robert Smith
The Capital Times Kids Fund
James Dahlberg and Elsebet Lund
Dane County Arts, 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
The Eugenie Mayer Bolz Family Foundation
The Evjue Foundation, Inc., the charitable arm of The Capital Times
Exact Sciences
Festival Foods
W. Jerome Frautschi
Friends of PBS Wisconsin
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Green Bay Packers Foundation
Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin
Susan S. Harris
Sharol Hayner
Heid Music and Heid Music Family Charitable Fund
Herb Kohl Charities
Carl M. Hudig
Dr. Stanley and Shirley Inhorn
Irving and Dorothy Levy Family Foundation, Inc.
J.H. Findorff & Son Inc.
Joan, Carolyn, Julia, Cathy, and John, in honor of their grandparents Eugenie & Adolph Bolz and parents Marian & Jack Bolz
The John and Barbara DeMain Fund for Education and Community Engagement
Kohls & Mackie, LLC
Madison Arts Commission, with additional funds from the Wisconsin Arts Board
Madison Symphony Orchestra League
Julie and Larry Midtbo
National Endowment for the Arts
Nimick Forbesway Foundation
Darlene M. Olson
Elizabeth Olson, in memory of Modesta Olson
David and Kato Perlman
Barbara Peterman, in honor of Barbara Berven
PBS Wisconsin’s Focus Fund for the Arts
Cyrena and Lee Pondrom
Fred and Nancy Risser
Sonya Beutler Sauer, in memory of Robert Sauer
Sentry Insurance Foundation
Bassam Shakhashiri
John and Twila Sheskey Charitable Fund
John Sims
Stafford Rosenbaum LLP
Nick and Judith Topitzes
Trust Point
U.S. Bank Foundation
UW Health & Unity Health Insurance
Marc Vitale and Darcy Kind
William J. and Joyce F. Wartmann Fund
Charles and Anita Williams
Wisconsin Arts Board, with additional funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts
Woodman’s Food Markets
Jim and Jessica Yehle
Two Anonymous Friends
This list includes donors who contributed gifts of $500 or more in support of Madison Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-2025 Education and Community Engagement Programs, as well as donors who have committed gifts to support the 2025-2026 programs at the time of print. Also included are PBS Wisconsin donors whose gifts supported The Final Forte broadcast in March 2025.
Partner Spotlight
Special thanks to the Madison Symphony Orchestra League, whose fundraising events and volunteer efforts support our Education and Community Engagement programs annually. Learn more at madisonsymphony.org/msol
CENTENNIAL OPENING CELEBRATION
19 Pure Joy Opening Night
JOHN DEMAIN, Conductor
OLGA KERN, Piano
FRIDAY: CONCERT & DINNER
20 Cirque de la Symphonie
DJ TERRENCE J
SATURDAY: CONCERT & AFTER PARTY OCT 5
MSO AT THE MOVIES
KYLE KNOX, Conductor
DISNEY AND PIXAR’S TOY STORY IN CONCERT OCT 17-19
Primal Light
JOHN DEMAIN, Conductor
CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR, Piano
JENI HOUSER, Soprano
EMILY FONS, Mezzo-Soprano
MADISON SYMPHONY CHORUS, Beverly Taylor, Director
ROBERT MOODY, Guest Conductor
ALBAN GERHARDT, Cello
DEC 5-7 A Madison Symphony Christmas
JOHN DEMAIN, Conductor
ALEXANDRA LOBIANCO, Soprano
KYLE KETELSEN, Bass-Baritone
MADISON SYMPHONY CHORUS, Beverly Taylor, Director
MT. ZION GOSPEL CHOIR, Tamera & Leotha Stanley, Directors
MADISON YOUTH CHOIRS, Michael Ross, Artistic Director
JAN 23-25 Heartbeat
KAZEM ABDULLAH, Guest Conductor
YEFIM BRONFMAN, Piano
FEB 20-22
MAR 20-22
MAR 28 & 29
APR 10-12
MAY 1-3
JUNE 13 & 14
Playful Pursuits
TANIA MILLER, Guest Conductor
RACHEL BARTON PINE, Violin
Force of Nature
EMANUEL AX, Piano
JOHN DEMAIN, Conductor
MSO AT THE MOVIES
KYLE KNOX, Conductor
INDIANA JONES AND THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK ™ LIVE IN CONCERT
Music by John WIlliams
Four the Soul
LAURA JACKSON, Guest Conductor
LOS ANGELES GUITAR QUARTET, Guest Artist
Voices Eternal
JOHN DEMAIN, Conductor
AILYN PÉREZ, Soprano
MADISON SYMPHONY CHORUS, Beverly Taylor, Director
MT. ZION GOSPEL CHOIR, Tamera & Leotha Stanley, Directors
MADISON YOUTH CHOIRS, Michael Ross, Artistic Director
Centennial Festival Weekend
During this free, two-day festival celebration, MSO musicians and diverse community groups will perform on a rotating schedule throughout Overture Center for the Arts. Feature concerts include:
FAMILY CONCERT, Kyle Knox, Associate Conductor
ORGAN PERFORMANCE, Greg Zelek, Principal Organist
MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, John DeMain, Music Director
Featuring Nine MSO Musicians & Greg Zelek
Group Ticket Pricing
For 25% off symphony concert tickets, use code EDUCATION25.
Single tickets are sold through Overture Center for the Arts. The 25% discount is available in all areas of the hall except E, where the tickets are $15. This code cannot be used for MSO at the Movies.
Groups of 10 or more receive a 25% discount for MSO concerts (excluding MSO at the Movies) and a 10% discount for Organ performances!
To place your order, call the MSO Office at (608) 257-3734 and ask for our Audience Experience Manager, Isabella Clinton.
For more information, please visit: madisonsymphony.org/group
