Thank you so much for being a part of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. We’re excited to bring you some news of upcoming concerts and events plus stories from the past month! Read further to find out what to expect in this January 2026 E-News & Stories.
- MSO Upcoming Concerts & Events
- Symphony: Bronfman Plays Brahms
- News & Stories
- 2026 Bolz Young Artist Competition Semi-Finalists
- Isthmus John DeMain Feature
- Cap Times Director Search Feature
- Celebrating Your Support
- Monthly Giving to the MSO
- HeartStrings® In Schools
- Topitzes Family Gift Endows Fall Youth Concerto Competition
- Community Events
- Forward Theater
- WCO
- Looking Forward To Next Month
- Symphony: Symphonic Fireworks
- Organ: Felix Hell
MSO Upcoming Concerts & Events
Join us on Valentine’s Day evening for a special recital with our resident quartet of our award-winning HeartStrings® program, the Rhapsodie Quartet featuring Co-Concertmaster Suzanne Beia, Violist Melissa Snell, Principal Cellist Karl Lavine, and violinist Laura Burns.
Event Details
When: Feb. 14th at 7 pm
Location: WYSO Center for Music
Tickets: FREE
The Overture Concert Organ’s third concert will feature guest organist Felix Hell as he returns to Madison with a unique and brilliant program that he calls “Cathedral of Sound: The Organ as Orchestra.” The program features Felix’s own arrangement of Beethoven’s famous Fifth Symphony, never heard before on the Overture Concert Organ.
Event Details
When: Feb. 24th at 7:30 pm
Location: Overture Hall
Tickets: $28-$51
Following the Sunday concert of A Madison Symphony Christmas we are hosting our Out at the Symphony event for the LGBTQIA+ community filled with ugly holiday sweater decorating, hot cocoa bar, a Santa and more!
Event Details
When: Dec. 7th at 5:00 pm
Location: Promenade Lounge
Tickets: $35-$55
News & Stories
Best of Madison 2026 Nominations Are Open!
It’s that time of year again – you can submit your nominations for Best of Madison 2026 until February 28th. Please consider supporting us and entering “Madison Symphony Orchestra” in the Classical Music Group entry box under the Arts & Entertainment section. You can follow the instructions at the link below! Thank you for your continued support in helping raise awareness about your wonderful Symphony!
2026 Bolz Young Artist Competition Finalists
The Semi-Final Round of the 2026 Bolz Young Artist Competition took place last month and the finalists for the 2026 Wisconsin Young Artists The Final Forte were chosen. You can see the finalists and attend this FREE Concert and Competition on Wednesday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m. in Overture Hall!
Celebrating Your Support
You Can Support Music Forever
Are you currently supporting the MSO with annual ticket purchases and/or an annual contribution? Do you wish to continue supporting the Symphony for as long as you can, possibly even forever? Making a gift to the MSO’s endowment is a way that today’s Symphony patrons can ensure their continued support after they are no longer able to attend concerts or make annual contributions. See an example and read the full story.
New Charitable Giving Rules
Each year, the Madison Symphony Orchestra relies upon contributions from individuals at a broad range of amounts. Read more about important changes to charitable giving tax law, effective as of January 1, 2026, that apply to donors at any amount.
Donor Lounge Sponsorships
Madison businesses support the MSO in lots of different ways. Last season, we introduced sponsorships of our donor lounge as a new avenue for corporate support. Thank you to our donor lounge sponsors for January’s Christopher Taylor Plays Brahms concerts, MPI Protective Service! Read more about how corporate support makes MSO hospitality possible here.
Community Events To Check Out!
Madison Opera: Everlasting Faint
February 13th & 15th, 2026
The ghosts of the murdered will have their revenge. A young woman has died of unknown natural causes—or so the doctor declares. Her ghost returns and tells her mother that her husband murdered her. Shaken and resolute, her mother embarks on a journey to find out the truth and deliver justice for her daughter. Based on the true story of the 1897 Greenbrier Ghost, “Everlasting Faint” is a ghost story, a maternal love story, a true crime drama and an all-American opera. Don’t miss this world premiere by Madison composer Scott Gendel, librettist Sandra Flores-Strand.
Learn More
Madison Ballet: Pointes of View
February 13th-15th, 2026
Madison Ballet’s second mixed repertory program, “Re:Focus – Pointes of View,” explores the expressive power of ballet through a wide range of artistic lenses. From tutus to combat boots, each work offers a bold reinterpretation of classical technique, pushing boundaries while honoring ballet’s rich traditions. This program asks audiences to shift the focus from pure dance technique to look deeper into the narrative each work conveys. This compelling program features Madison premieres by Heinz Poll, Tom Mattingly and Ja’ Malik, as well as an expanded version of Richard Walters’ “Weibermacht,” a witty, high-energy ballet that brings humor and dynamism to the stage.
Learn More
Forward Theater: Ironbound
February 4th-15th, 2026
One woman. Three decades. A lifetime of survival. It takes work to dream… especially at a bus stop in New Jersey. An immigrant fighting for a better life learns what’s fleeting and what lasts, in this clear-eyed and darkly funny portrait spanning 22 years. Ironbound is a meditation on hope, love, and staying human.
Learn More
Children’s Theater of Madison: The Hobbit
February 7th-22nd, 2026
When homebody Bilbo Baggins is whisked away by a band of dwarves and a very mysterious wizard, he finds himself facing trolls, goblins and a fire-breathing dragon—with only his courage and a bit of luck to guide him! J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved tale comes to life in this adventurous stage adaptation filled with heart, humor and heroism. Based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Licensed by Middle-Earth Enterprises. Adapted for the stage by Greg Banks. With Music by Tom Johnson. Originally commissioned and produced by Children’s Theatre Company. Produced by special arrangement with Plays for New Audiences.
Looking Forward To Next Month!
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