MSOL E-News & Stories, April 2020

To our MSOL members,

We express our gratitude for your support of the Madison Symphony Orchestra League and your participation in our MSOL events, volunteer activities, and our MSOL docent support of the music education in our schools and community engagement projects.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak the MSOL, like all organizations in our community, are having to adjust our plans for events. We have taken the following actions:

April 30, Beyond the Music Discovery Talk: Canceled.

May 14, Spring Luncheon: This lunch is canceled. Your member ballot to approve our slate of 2020-2021 MSOL Board Officers was sent via email last week.

May 19, Symphony Soup: Canceled.

May 21, Link Up: Canceled.

May 19 & 30, Parties of Note: TBD; guests for those parties will be contacted directly.

June 15, Concert on the Green: This is canceled and our committee is working on COG 2021. If you were planning to attend this year’s event, please consider making a tax-deductible gift to the MSOL equivalent to the $150 ticket price that you would have spent, or of any amount that feels right to you. Contributions will help the MSOL fulfill its commitment to support the Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement Programs.*

As the efforts to deal with this virus continue, we look forward to the time when we can be together again to share fellowship as MSOL members and support the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s Education and Community Engagement programs. We appreciate your understanding and support.

Beth Rahko
President
Madison Symphony Orchestra League

*To donate, please mail a check payable to MSOL with “donation” in the memo, to:  MSOL, 222 W Washington Ave Ste 460, Madison, WI 53703.

Greg Zelek Pop-Up Event

For MSOL members who weren’t able to attend our fall pop up event with MSO principal organist and curator of the Overture Concert Organ, Greg Zelek, here’s a short video. We all gained new insights into how he prepared the Samuel Barber’s organ concerto Toccata Festiva for the MSO concert program.

Thank you to Greg for making time to visit with us during his busy performance week, and Peter Rodgers for videography and editing. Thanks to the MSOL Membership Committee for hosting.

View the video of Greg’s presentation here.

A Soirée of Song: Party of Note

MSOL members Greg Reed and Michael Zorich hosted a lovely evening at their expansive apartment in downtown Madison, which began with drinks and a multitude of appetizers. Vocalist Susan Lee and her pianist Vince Fuh performed a collection of sad, silly, and sentimental songs. Dessert and more beverages capped off the event.

Art Inspired by Music: Party of Note

Stephen Fleischman, Director of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMOCA), and Mel Becker Solomon, Curator of the Permanent Collection, led guests to the Works on Paper Gallery and the “vault” where the permanent collection is stored.

Guests also learned about the museum’s collection of musically-inspired art. Refreshments followed the event and each guest also received special thank you gifts from MMOCA.

Thanks to Darcy Kind and Valerie Kazamias, who organized and sponsored this fantastic event.

Kenneth Woods: Pop-Up Event

Madison born MSO guest conductor Kenneth Woods was kind enough to spend time with us for this exclusive MSOL meet and greet. Guests were able to hear about the works in the “The Miracle“ program in March, his career, and his current work with the English Symphony Orchestra. He also described rehearsing with Blake Pouliot, guest artist for the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. For the Strauss Ein Heldenleben, Mr. Woods discussed how the solos played by concertmaster Naha Greenholtz helped tell the composer’s story.

Thanks to the MSOL Membership Committee for sponsoring. Thanks also to Cathy Buege for hosting.

Mid-Winter Luncheon

This year’s Midwinter Luncheon was held at Nakoma Country Club on Thursday, March 12. The event featured an engaging presentation by Randal Swiggum about his experiences with music as a youth, and the current challenges and hopes for music education in Madison area schools. Highlights included his compelling demonstration of the need for a cultural shift and more worldly perspective.

Thank you to Valerie Kazamias for organizing, and to Randal Swiggum for participating so enthusiastically.

Welcome New MSOL Members!

Additional Event Updates

About the MSOL

The Madison Symphony Orchestra League (MSOL) continues its tradition of volunteers in service to the Madison Symphony Orchestra (MSO) reaching back to 1956. Over 375 members give of their time, energy and financial support to benefit MSO’s nationally-recognized Education and Community Engagement Programs. By participating in fundraising and social events, MSOL members can share their appreciation and excitement for classical music with others, contribute to the enrichment of the community and one of America’s finest regional orchestras.