A Symphony of Gratitude Dear Madison Symphony Orchestra Patrons, This pandemic has indeed affected all of our lives in some way or another and has had a profound effect on the performing arts. To say we were disappointed in not being able to finish our 2019–2020 Season or to convene as an orchestra to prepare live concerts for your enjoyment is an understatement, and the only consolation is that we have not been alone in adjusting to this strange new world! For us as artists, music is a constant source of comfort and nourishment, as we continue to study and practice every day preparing for a triumphant return to the concert hall for live performances. Along with practicing the piano, I am having fun listening to symphonic works that we have never performed, in the hopes of making some wonderful new discoveries to share with you in future seasons. My work includes a renewed and deeper commitment to broaden the artistic scope of the MSO in the area of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. I personally add my own commitment to stand with people of color and support the changes that must occur to make things better. During this past year, our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee has been exploring ways we can create a modern-day symphony orchestra that reflects the society in which we live. And while this includes all facets of the Symphony’s operations, my job is to explore ways to expand the repertoire to include a stronger presence of composers of color. I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on some of the highlights of this past season that you helped make possible with your donations and ticket purchases. In September 2019, we welcomed our incredibly talented curator of the Overture Concert Organ, Greg Zelek, in his concerto debut with the orchestra, brilliantly playing Barber’s Toccata Festiva. We are so proud of the growth of our string section over the years, which was brilliantly illustrated by the way they executed the difficult Venusberg Music of Wagner. Our woodwinds gave a sublimely sensual performance in Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. The fall also brought us two auspicious debuts from violinist Rachel Barton Pine and pianist Joyce Yang. In addition to Rachel’s splendid performance of the Khachaturian Concerto, anyone who was in the audience on that Saturday night was treated to an awesome display of Scottish fiddling. The orchestra played the delightful 9th Symphony of Shostakovich with virtuosic charm. Along with Joyce Yang’s flawless performance of the 3rd Piano Concerto of Prokofiev, the orchestra mastered the very challenging Newly Drawn Sky by Aaron Jay Kernis, and delivered a beautiful Schumann 2nd Symphony. Christmas brought us for the 15th year in a row the Mount Zion Gospel Choir, which always manages to raise the roof, as well as beautifully sung performances by the Madison Symphony Chorus and Madison Youth Choirs. And who can forget the show stopping performance of O Holy Night as performed by soprano Michelle Johnson? January again brought us together with several American Players Theatre actors for yet another exciting Beyond the Score®, this time Prokofiev’s masterpiece from World War II, his Symphony No. 5. In February, we welcomed back violinist Pinchas Zukerman and cellist Amanda Forsyth for a beautifully realized Brahms Double Concerto. The orchestra followed with a wonderful rendition of Copland’s 3rd Symphony. March, our last concert of the season, was distinguished by the very successful debut of conductor Kenneth Woods and a thrilling Mendelssohn Violin Concerto from violinist Blake Pouliot in his MSO debut. The orchestra’s stunning performances of Haydn and Strauss concluded our abbreviated season. I want to thank all those involved for making these performances possible. The synergy that has developed over the years between the musicians, staff, board, donors, subscribers, and you, the audience, is simply without comparison. We look forward to continuing this remarkable relationship in the months and years to come. I wish you all a safe and healthy autumn and I look forward to reuniting with you in Overture Hall in 2021.
John DeMain, Music Director
SPECIAL FEATURE: 2019 / 2020 Impact Report
9
C O M M U N I T Y 2019-2020 Madison Symphony Orchestra Season
2 4 ,6 6 7 890
Audience Members at 19 concerts
Student Rush Tickets
1 7 Orchestral Masterpieces performed 11
886
Guest Artists
New ticket-buying households
“ We liked the show so much, we came back on Sunday to see it again. It was wonderful!” – MSO Subscriber
300 + Volunteers
10
( boards, committees, and members of the Madison Symphony Chorus)
I M PA C T 2019-2020 Overture Concert Organ Season “ The atmosphere of these concerts is intellectual but ls also social enough to be warm and inviting to us. Always leave feeling uplifted and excited.” – Organ Subscriber
3 ,3 2 8
Audience Members at 3 ticketed concerts
3 Guest Soloists 1 Guest Choir
3,3 8 4
People attended 5 free concerts
“ I could have listened for hours! Playing very difficult pieces without music was especially impressive.” – Organ Subscriber
B Y
T H E
The Bolz Young Artist Competition
N U M B E R S
School-based Education Programs & Youth Concerts
reached through 60,000 + People statewide broadcasts of
“Wisconsin Young Artists Compete: The Final Forte” on PBS Wisconsin and WPR
3 2 Applicants 4
Winners
$ 6,000
in Prizes Awarded
“ My experience performing as a Final Forte soloist granted me an invaluable opportunity to inspire the members of my local community. The Final Forte has allowed me to demonstrate—more than any other experience that I’ve been a part of thus far—the power music can have on people of all ages and from all walks of life.” –M ichael Wu, 2020 First Prize Winner
HeartStrings®
articipatory, 65 Pmusic therapy-
7 ,497 30
informed sessions
Children experienced live classical music
10 Dane County Schools
73
Schools beyond Dane County
“ We GREATLY appreciate the subsidized tickets. It means so much to our low-income school to have that financial barrier removed.” – Teacher, Spring Young People’s Concert
1,362
Partner Locations ( assisted living and community health care centers)
3,200
Individuals Reached
“ I would like to express how much we appreciate all of you taking the time from your day, your schedules, your lives, to come out and perform for a group of people that are most often forgotten—particularly by friends and family. HeartStrings has meant so much to them.” – Partner Location Staff Member
Students received financial assistance
11
From the Executive Director and Board President Dear Friends and Stakeholders, Last season was one none of us will ever forget. In early spring, the shock of the coronavirus pandemic was an unforeseen blow not just to Madison’s cultural arts, but to performing arts world-wide. The subsequent cancellation of the rest of our season was an unprecedented interruption of 90+ years of continuous concert production. The challenges of COVID-19 notwithstanding, its onset capped an otherwise excellent year with gathering momentum toward the close. Here are some highlights: • Record-breaking, sold-out Madison Symphony Christmas concerts reversed a trend of declining attendance in the fall. Through our continuing partnership with the Madison Chapter of The Links, Inc. and the support of generous donors we distributed 110 complimentary tickets to youth and families of diverse backgrounds through our “All Ears at the Symphony” community ticketing program. • We introduced the Symphony Ambassador program, which invites people of color and their families to greet concertgoers as they enter the Overture Hall lobby, enjoy the concerts and join us for post-concert receptions. The goal is to create a more welcoming environment for audience members of color. • “Out at the Symphony”, which includes members and friends of the LGBTQ community and “Club 201”, our young professionals group, participated in hospitality events at our Christmas and Valentine’s Day concerts. • “Beyond the Score”, the multi-media concert that explores the history and meaning of select masterpieces, again exceeded box office expectations. • In their MSO debuts, Kenneth Woods, native Madisonian and now international conductor, and violinist Rachel Barton Pine participated in events with the young musicians of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras. • The Overture Concert Organ series soared to new heights, led by curator Greg Zelek, who continues to build our organ program. • The Education and Community Engagement Programs continue to innovate and excel. Kathryn Schwarzmann and Lisa Kjentvet presented the HeartStrings® program with the Rhapsodie Quartet at the Music Therapy Association National Conference in Minneapolis. Kathryn was appointed chair of the Education and Community Development Leadership Committee of the League of American Orchestras. • Generous contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations and government entities exceeded the Annual Campaign goal by 5.5%, with individuals accounting for 70% of the total. We welcomed five new households into our Stradivarius Society, bringing the total to sixty households representing over $8 million in anticipated planned gifts to our endowment. • The Board of Directors authorized payment to the orchestra of $373,000 of wages for COVID-19 cancelled concerts. A Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Loan covered this relief to our artists, as well as staff salaries. We are grateful to all of our patrons, donors and volunteers who stood by the Symphony through the spring and summer, and who have purchased tickets and made donations to support the new, shortened season as we strive to carry out our mission through virtual content and communications during these unprecedented times. You are all members of the Madison Symphony Orchestra family, and your love and support are so important to us now more than ever. We all look forward to brighter days when music can once again fill Overture Hall and send our spirits soaring.
Richard H. Mackie Executive Director
Ellsworth Brown President of the Board of Directors
2 0 1 9 – 2 0 2 0 F I N A N C I A L I N F O R M AT I O N 2019 – 2020 Revenues: $4,783,123*
2019 – 2020 Expenses: $4,836,905*
35% Tickets & Contracted Services 46% Contributions
78% Concerts & Education Programs (incl. marketing)
7% Development
19% Investments
15% General Administration
*unaudited
Madison Symphony Orchestra | 222 W. Washington Ave. Ste. 460, Madison, WI 53703 | (608) 257-3734 | madisonsymphony.org
12