100 Years Together in Music

Beginning this fall, your Madison Symphony Orchestra will celebrate a century of joy bringing live music to life. You’ll experience breathtaking moments and memories throughout our 100th season. We’re composing a new future connecting community and expanding musical horizons. The 25/26 symphony season takes place between October 2025 and May 2026, and will include eight triple-performance concerts featuring orchestral masterpieces, a world premiere commission, performed by our own MSO musicians and world-renowned guest soloists, plus two MSO at the Movies live-to-film concerts. Subscribers can add Movies as well as September Centennial Opening Celebration concerts and special events to their subscription. Following the conclusion of our 25/26 subscription season, you’re invited to “A Community Gift and Dream — for the Love of Music” June 13-14, 2026 — a FREE two-day Centennial Festival Weekend when MSO musicians and diverse community groups will perform throughout Overture Center for the Arts. Share our love of music. Join us — everyone can be a part of it!

Subscribe now to 5-8 subscription concerts ($90-$660), and save 10–25% off before single tickets go on sale August 23, 2025.

Single tickets to September Centennial Opening Celebration concerts and events available now!

“Pure Joy Opening Night: Magical Tchaikovsky & Maestro’s Dinner” features a classical concert with the Madison Symphony Orchestra and guest pianist Olga Kern, conducted by John DeMain, at 6:00 p.m. in Overture Hall, followed by a cocktail reception and formal dinner in the Overture Hall Lobby on Friday, September 19. Tickets for the concert only are $30–$100. Combo tickets for the concert and dinner are $300 per person including premium concert seating.

“Soar with Cirque de la Symphonie & Party into the Night” brings together the magic of circus arts and our orchestra in Overture Hall on Saturday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m. In Cirque goes to the Cinema, Cirque acrobats will perform original choreographed acts while the Madison Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John DeMain, performs music from famous film scores. An after-party with foods stations, DJ Terrence J, and dancing follows the concert. Tickets for the concert only are $30–$100. Admission to the after-party may be purchased for an additional $50 per person.

Read the season press release here. Explore more about each concert we have scheduled this season and secure your seats with a subscription by clicking the Subscribe Now button below!

25/26 Symphony season subscribers may add this to their order when subscribing! Single tickets are on sale now!

Featuring
John DeMain, Conductor
Olga Kern, Piano

25/26 Symphony season subscribers may add this to their order when subscribing! Single tickets are on sale now!

Featuring
John DeMain, Conductor
Cirque de la Symphonie, Special Guest Artists

Music
Richard Rodgers, The Carousel Waltz from Carousel
John Kander, Selections from Chicago
Lalo Schifrin, Theme from Mission Impossible
James Horner, My Heart Will Go On from Titanic
Leonard Bernstein, Overture to West Side Story
…and so many more

Disney and Pixar, Toy Story in Concert

October 5, 2025

Primal Light

October 17, 18, 19, 2025

Music
Mason Bates, Resurrexit
César Franck, Symphonic Variations, M. 46
Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 2 in C minor, “Resurrection”

Radiance

November 21, 22, 23, 2025

A Madison Symphony Christmas 2025

December 5, 6, 7, 2025

Heartbeat

January 23, 24, 25, 2026

Featuring
Kazem Abdullah, Guest Conductor
Yefim Bronfman, Piano

Music
Gabriela Lena Frank, Escaramuza
Richard Strauss, Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59
Johannes Brahms,Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83

Playful Pursuits

February 20, 21, 22, 2026

Featuring
Tania Miller, Guest Conductor
Rachel Barton Pine, Violin

Music
Felix Mendelssohn, Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 21
Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
Claude Debussy, Prélude á l’après-midi d’un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun)
Igor Stravinsky, Petrushka (1947 version)

Force of Nature

March 20, 21, 22, 2026

Featuring
John DeMain, Conductor
Emanuel Ax, Piano

Music
Richard Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks, Op. 28
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major, K. 503
Gabriela Ortiz, Téenek – Invenciones de Territorio
Ottorino Respighi, Pines of Rome, P.141

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark™ Live in Concert

March 28, 29, 2026

25/26 Symphony season subscribers may purchase any number of tickets to this special presentation before single tickets go on sale August 23, 2025. Add to your order when you subscribe!

Featuring
Kyle Knox, Conductor

Four the Soul

April 10, 11, 12, 2026

Featuring
Laura Jackson, Guest Conductor

Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
John Dearman
Matt Greif
Bill Kanengiser
Douglas Lora

Music
Jimmy López, Fiesta! Four Pop Dances for Orchestra
Joaquín Rodrigo, Concierto Andaluz
Jean Sibelius, Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43

Voices Eternal

May 1, 2, 3, 2026

Featuring
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

Music
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Jake Heggie/Gene Scheer, EARTH: A Choral Symphony (World Premiere)

A Community Gift and Dream — for the Love of Music

June 13, 14, 2026

Featuring
John DeMain, Conductor
Julian Rhee, Violin
Madison Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Beverly Taylor, Director
Vocal Soloists: TBD

Music
Dmitri Shostakovich, Festive Overture, Op. 96
Pablo de Sarasate, Fantasy on Bizet’s “Carmen,” Op. 25
George Gershwin, An American in Paris
Gustav Holst, Mars, Mercury and Jupiter from The Planets, op. 32
Ludwig van Beethoven, Finale from Symphony No. 9, op. 125, D minor

Please take note: We guarantee a refund for tickets to any concert that cannot be performed for any reason. Programs, dates, prices, and artists subject to change.