Free Farmers’ Market Organ Concert: Isabella Wu

Step into the cool expanse of Overture Hall on select summer Saturdays during the Dane County Farmers’ Market on the Capitol Square to enjoy the gift of beautiful music with the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s Overture Concert Organ. Bring your family and friends for a relaxing 45-minute free concert. No tickets or reservations are needed and all ages are welcome! Discover more about our Free Farmers’ Market Organ Concert Series.

Program

Felix Mendelssohn, Sonata No. 4 in Bb Major, Op. 65 Nr. 4 – IV. Allegro maestoso e vivace 
Josef Rheinberger, Sonata No. 9 in Bb Major, Op. 142 – Mov. II Romanze 
Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 527 
Marcel Dupré, Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in G minor 
Debussy arr. Leon Racques, Cortège 
Pietro Mascagni arr. Jonathan Scott, Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana 
Theodore Dubois, Fiat Lux 

Meet Isabella Wu

Originally hailing from Madison, WI, Isabella Wu made her orchestral debut with the Madison Symphony Orchestra at the age of 11. She recently completed her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at Northwestern University, and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Organ Performance at the Curtis Institute of Music.  

After being encouraged by Greg Zelek to pursue organ lessons during her undergraduate study, Isabella has since then performed at Longwood Gardens, Macy’s Wanamaker, Ocean Grove, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian and Christ Church in Philadelphia, St. Luke’s Episcopal in Evanston, and American Guild of Organists regional conventions, among others. She recently returned from a study trip in Paris, where she played at St. Suplice, Versailles, and La Madeleine. 

At Curtis, Isza holds the Charles and Judith Freyer Fellowship and studies organ with Alan Morrison. She is the Organ Scholar at Saint Mark’s Church in Philadelphia under the guidance of Thomas Gaynor and Robert McCormick. She also studies harpsichord with Leon Schelhase and improvisation with Matthew Glandorf. Isabella has been grateful to have studied or had masterclasses with several of today’s leading organists; these include Paul Jacobs, Christa Rakich, Ken Cowan, Oliver Latry, and Katelyn Emerson. 

Passionate about forming connections through music, Isza is a frequent keyboard collaborator and music educator. During her time at Northwestern, she was highly involved with the Alice Millar Chapel Choir and directed the Pipe Organ Series, which focused on  involving more students with the pipe organ. She has worked at several award-winning music education programs, including The People’s Music School (Chicago), Madison Symphony Orchestra, and Northwestern’s Academy of Music and Special Education. Isabella continues to maintain a private studio in Philadelphia, teaching organ, piano, and violin. 

Free Farmers’ Market Organ Concerts are presented by the Madison Symphony Orchestra and Overture Center for the Arts, in partnership with Madison Media Partners.

Support for all Overture Concert Organ programs is provided by the Diane Endres Ballweg Fund.