S P E C I A L F E AT U R E : 2 0 2 4 – 2 0 2 5 Y E A R - I N - R E V I E W support. Through four Young People’s Concerts tailored to specific grade levels, the annual Bolz Competition/Final Forte, the MSO on the Go community concert in Waunakee, and the HeartStrings® and Up Close & Musical® outreach programs, our musicians reached deep and wide into our community.
A SY M P H O N Y O F G R AT I T U D E TO O U R S U P P O R T E R S
But the music didn’t stop there! Last season also marked the 20th Anniversary of the Overture Concert Organ. Four highly engaging and varied organ programs, expertly curated by our Principal Organist and Curator, Greg Zelek, exceeded expectations by all measures. Greg’s spring collaboration with alumni members of the Empire Brass attracted the largest audience ever for one of our organ concerts. I continue to marvel at the growing popularity of these programs that showcase our magnificent organ.
The Madison Symphony Orchestra
2024–2025 Reflections from the Podium by John DeMain, Music Director Our 99th Season was truly spectacular from start to finish! We opened the 2024-2025 Season with a nod to the 20th Anniversary of Overture Hall and the Overture Concert Organ with our principal organist, Greg Zelek, performing Jongen’s Symphonie Concertante. Cellist Tommy Mesa performed an effortless rendition of the Variations on a Rococo Theme by Tchaikovsky, Umoja by Valerie Coleman and Da Falla’s Suite No. 2 from The Three-Cornered Hat rounded out the program. The October program featured guest conductor Nicholas Hersh and the brilliant and beautiful violinist, Kelly Hall-Tompkins in an imaginative and evocative program of works by Anna Clyne, Vaughan Williams, Ravel, and Berlioz. In November, guest conductor Michael Stern opened with Leshnoff’s Rush for Orchestra and was joined by pianist Garrick Ohlsson for the Grieg Piano Concerto, finishing with Shostakovich’s enormous Fifth Symphony. 18
madisonsymphony.org
Our annual Christmas concerts, which always feature joyous collaborations with the Madison Symphony Chorus, Mt. Zion Gospel Choir, Madison Youth Choirs and guest opera stars—this year soprano Vanessa Becerra and baritone Craig Irvin—unofficially kicked off the holiday season. Working with siblings Gil and Orli Shaham, and the incredible up-andcoming cellist Sterling Elliott, in our January all-Beethoven program, was a dream come true, both for me and for the donor who conceived of this concert and provided the lead gift to make it happen. In March, the audience was transported to an otherworldly place through absolutely gorgeous performances of Strauss’ Four Last Songs, sung so beautifully by Amanda Majeski, and Mozart’s Requiem showcasing the Madison Symphony Chorus and guest soloists Amanda Majeski, Kirsten Lippart, Martin Luther Clark and Matt Boehler.
The April concert—featuring works by Barber, Kevin Puts and Prokofiev, led by guest conductor Joseph Young and showcasing the genre-bending string trio Time for Three—was exciting and dramatic! Finally, in May, soloists Philippe Bianconi, Michelle Johnson, and Eric Greene joined the orchestra, the Madison Symphony Chorus, and me for an allGershwin program that included beloved songs from Gershwin’s great American opera, Porgy and Bess—a work that has played a special role in my life and career as an American conductor. MSO’s Associate Conductor, Kyle Knox, led two MSO at the Movies events: Coco in October, and the original Star Wars: A New Hope in February. In June, I conducted more stirring movie music in our Symphony at Sunset: Hooray for Hollywood benefit concert and dinner, presented in partnership with the Madison Symphony Orchestra League.
In addition to the ticketed concerts, the MSO continued our commitment to making live music accessible through free and low-cost education and community engagement programming, all made possible by generous donor
I commend the wonderful musicians of the Madison Symphony Orchestra who pour such love and passion into everything they perform, regardless of the venue or who is sitting in the audience. They are truly gifted professionals, and working with them is a joy and privilege.
I M PA C T 2024-2025 ORCHESTRA SEASON IN REVIEW
35,597 Total Tickets 21 Orchestral Masterpieces Performed 1 Guest Ensemble 10 Guest Soloists 3 Guest Conductors
Thank you to all who joined us in Overture Hall in our 99th Season. Your presence, support, and applause mean everything to us. See you in the 100th!
– John DeMain Music Director
“Working with siblings Gil and Orli Shaham, and the incredible up-and-coming cellist Sterling Elliott, in our January all-Beethoven program, was a dream come true...” “Wow, there are simply no words to describe this year’s performance. From the first Joy To The World, we knew we were in for something special. We’ve attended the Christmas concert for several years now, and this truly was the BEST EVER!!” “Everything was perfect! One of the most enjoyable performances in our 7 years of being a subscriber.”
2024-2025YEAR-IN-REVIEW
19
Fiscal Year 2025 Ends on a High Note
I M PAC T
THE BOLZ YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION
by Robert A. Reed, Executive Director
2024–2025 OVERTURE CONCERT ORGAN SEASON IN REVIEW
Compete: The Final Forte” on PBS Wisconsin and WPR
I am pleased to report that the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-2025 Season exceeded expectations from a financial standpoint. Overall earned revenue for the Symphony exceeded budgeted figures by 4%. For the orchestra subscription series, subscription (season tickets) revenue fell slightly short of budget, reflecting an industry-wide trend of declining subscriptions, but the shortfall was more than made up for by stronger-than-budgeted single ticket sales. In fact, the Symphony series experienced the highest revenue result for single tickets in MSO history! Sales also exceeded goals for the three MSO at the Movies performances and the MSO on the Go concert in Waunakee, indicating a very strong response to these innovative programming formats that are designed to reach new audiences. The Overture Concert Organ program surpassed subscription and single ticket sales targets, with the Empire Brass Celebration concert seeing the highest sales in the organ program’s history. What a wonderful way to celebrate the organ’s 20th anniversary! Thanks to our generous donors, we had an exceptional year in fundraising. The contributed revenue goal was exceeded by 18%. This success was led by strong individual giving to the annual fund and the organ fund. With the success in earned and contributed income, and having higherthan-anticipated earnings on our investments, the MSO didn’t take all of the available endowment distribution from the Madison Symphony Orchestra Foundation. The remainder was left in the endowment where the funds will continue to grow for the future benefit of the Symphony.
20
madisonsymphony.org
Operating expenses for FY25 came in lower than budgeted. This was due to two full-time positions going unfilled, and marketing, development, and artistic/concert production expenses all coming in below the budget. Thanks to the continued support of our trusting patrons and donors, the Symphony is well-positioned to continue serving our loyal audiences, while also exploring and implementing strategies to grow the audience and expand the Symphony’s reach into the community. These include movie concerts, community concerts, pre-concert lobby experiences, MSO After Dark, Out at the Symphony, and our special Centennial events in September and June. We want our community to know that the Symphony is welcoming and fun, and that it can be for everyone! It is time for the 100th Anniversary season to begin! As you may know, in addition to celebrating our Centennial, we are also celebrating John DeMain’s final season as music director. If all goes as planned, we anticipate announcing a new music director by the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season. Thank you to everyone who attended a concert or event, made a contribution, volunteered for a committee or special project, or shared your enthusiasm for the Madison Symphony Orchestra during the 2024-2025 Season. With your support, the Symphony will launch into our second century in excellent fiscal health.
– Robert A. Reed Executive Director
2024–2025 OPERATING REVENUES: $
6,636,075 (unaudited)
Tickets and Contracted Services
Less than 1% Government Funding
37% 24%
Investments
38% Contributions
2024–2025 OPERATING EXPENSES: $
4,289 Total Tickets 4 Ticketed Concerts 2 Guest Artists 2 Guest Ensembles “Greg [Zelek] is an absolute star. His talent, humor, and humility make every organ concert we have attended a delight.”
6,558,582 (unaudited)
General Administration
Development
“Music engagement programs, like the Final Forte, are so important to enrich children’s lives and provide them a platform to express themselves. As a child—and even throughout all stages of life—the world can feel very isolating and daunting; but music is always a steady source of hope, joy, and expression. As a violinist, music is a way I can express my emotions and feelings without having to use a word, almost as a coping mechanism for any challenges that might come my way. ” – Indre Raghavan, Violin, 2025 Bolz Young Artist Competition Winner
COMMUNITY CONCERTS Over 700 adults and children attended the Free Community Concert at the Waunakee
16% 7%
41 Competitors, 4 finalists, $6,000 in Prizes Awarded 60,000+ People reached through statewide broadcasts of “Wisconsin Young Artists
Performing Arts Center
77%
YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERTS 6,703 Children experienced live classical music from 77 schools “Thank you for such an excellent concert. This was one of the few times I was able to attend the program with our 4th graders and I was very impressed by the performance and accessibility for the students. I especially thought the repertoire and theme this year was engaging and relatable for students.” – Teacher
Concerts and Education Programs (including Marketing)
“Thanks to the continued support of our trusting patrons and donors, the Symphony is well-positioned to continue serving our loyal audiences, while also exploring and implementing strategies to grow the audience and expand the Symphony’s reach into the community.”
“The entire performance was spectacular. The musicians were top notch. The musical selections were varied and fun. And the commentary was interesting and lively. Greg and the musicians from the Empire Brass held my attention from beginning to end.”
“We are so grateful for the work and planning that goes into making this an incredibly smooth and organized event. Today’s concert was a perfect, engaging, inspiring opportunity for my students, and one of our very favorite events of the year.” – Teacher
UP CLOSE & MUSICAL 7 school partners 28 Hunt Quartet Visits to schools (4 per school x 7 schools) 940 approximate number of students reached HEARTSTRINGS® 90 Participatory music therapy-informed sessions presented by the Rhapsodie Quartet 10 Partner locations (assisted living and community health care centers) 3,200 Individuals reached 2024-2025 YEAR-IN-REVIEW
21