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
The Madison Symphony Orchestra’s January concerts will feature guest conductor Kazem Abdullah and the return of internationally acclaimed pianist Yefim Bronfman. The program showcases works by Gabriela Lena Frank, Richard Strauss and Johannes Brahms.
Event Details
When: Jan. 23rd & 24th at 7:30 pm
Jan. 25th at 2:30 pm
Location: Overture Hall
Tickets: $28-$131
News & Stories
2026 Bolz Young Artist Competition Semi-Finalists
The Preliminary Round of the 2026 Bolz Young Artist Competition has concluded. The judges have chosen eight outstanding semi-finalists to advance to the second round of the competition which will take place this Thursday, January 8, 7:00-9:00pm at the WYSO Center for Music.
Isthmus John DeMain Feature
Isthmus Magazine’s story features Music Director John DeMain recounting his incredible experiences—from his days studying piano in Youngstown, Ohio, to his years as an undergraduate and graduate student at Julliard, to his early jobs in summer stock productions, to numerous acclaimed production.
Cap Times Director Search Feature
Matt Ambrosio from the Cap Times shares where the Madison Symphony Orchestra stands on its music director search. As John DeMain’s last season reaches its close, there is much speculation as to who will take over the baton. There are still three more guest conductors to come this January, February, and April.
Celebrating Your Support
Monthly Giving to the MSO
Did you know that individual donors can now make a monthly, recurring gift to the MSO through our Sustaining Giving program? Setting up a monthly gift is a convenient and easy way to incorporate giving into your life, especially if one of your new year’s resolutions is philanthropy.
HeartStrings® In Schools
Did you know that HeartStrings® is in schools? In addition to senior living and healthcare facilities, every year the MSO’s award-winning, interactive, music therapy-informed program is presented at one elementary school location! The MSO is proud to present HeartStrings at no cost to our partner locations.
Topitzes Family Gift Endows Fall Youth Concerto Competition
This past fall, MSO received a wonderful gift of $100,000 from Judith and Nick Topitzes to endow and name the Fall Youth Concerto Competition, the MSO’s competition for talented young instrumentalists in grades 3-8. In appreciation of Judy and Nick’s generous gift, the MSO has named this competition in their family’s honor: The Topitzes Family Fall Youth Concerto Competition.
Community Events To Check Out!
Forward Theater: Ironbound
January 29th-February 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
Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra: Masterworks II – Prokofiev Prowess
January 30th, 2026
Join the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra for an electrifying evening showcasing the fiery virtuosity of guest pianist Ilya Yakushev in Prokofiev’s “Piano Concerto No. 3.” A true tour de force, this concerto brims with lyrical beauty and relentless energy—perfectly suited to Yakushev’s commanding artistry. The program opens with Mozart’s elegant “Symphony No. 27 in G Major,” a charming and sophisticated gem that captures the composer’s youthful brilliance, and Bizet’s “Symphony in C” brings the evening to a close, radiating lyrical warmth and French finesse.
Learn More
Looking Forward To Next Month!
Symphonic Fireworks
When: February 20th, 21st, 22nd
Where: Overture Hall
Tickets: $22-$125
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