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 June 2026 E-News & Stories.
- MSO Upcoming Concerts & Events
- Centennial Festival Weekend
- Festival Family Concert
- Festival Organ Performance
- Festival Symphony Concert
- Send John DeMain A Message
- News & Stories
- Best of Madison 2026 Voting
- 26/27 Symphony Subscriptions
- 26/27 Organ Subscriptions
- Celebrating Your Support
- An Evening of Gratitude Celebrates Donors
- Community Events
- Make Music Madison
- Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
- Wisconsin Union Theater
MSO Upcoming Concerts & Events
Join us for our Centennial Festival Weekend, a FREE two-day festival celebration in which 50+ musicians and diverse community groups will perform on a rotating schedule throughout various spaces in Overture Center for the Arts. All performances will be presented free-of-charge to the public – a gift to the city of Madison and surrounding areas for their support of the MSO now and into the future.
Event Details
When: June 13th & 14th from 8:30 am – 9:00 pm
Location: Overture Center for the Arts
Tickets: FREE**
**Let us know you’re coming to be entered into our giveaway raffle.
Join us on Saturday morning in Overture Hall for a special family-friendly concert to celebrate our centennial weekend! Kyle Knox will conduct the Madison Symphony Orchestra. The concert will close with special guest artist T.L. Luke creating live art onstage during the final piece.
Event Details
When: Saturday, June 13th at 11:00 am
Where: Overture Hall
Tickets: FREE**
**Let us know you’re coming to be entered into our giveaway raffle.
Join us on Saturday afternoon in Overture Hall for a special Overture Concert Organ performance to celebrate our centennial weekend! Hear Greg Zelek perform this special curated program perfect for all ages to attend!
Event Details
When: Saturday, June 13th at 4:30 pm
Where: Overture Hall
Tickets: FREE**
**Let us know you’re coming to be entered into our giveaway raffle.
Join us on Sunday afternoon in Overture Hall for John DeMain’s final concert as Music Director to conclude our centennial weekend! Hear pieces from Gershwin, Sarasate, Sibelius, Holst and Beethoven. Special Guests include Julian Rhee, Alexandra LoBianco, Kara Morgan, Michael Deshield, Craig Irvin and the Madison Symphony Chorus.
Event Details
When: Sunday, June 13th at 4:30 pm
Where: Overture Hall
Tickets: FREE**
**Let us know you’re coming to be entered into our giveaway raffle.
Send John DeMain A Message!
We have created a Kudoboard, which is an online message board, where you can leave a message for John to celebrate his 32 years with the Madison Symphony Orchestra! This is our way of letting the community say goodbye to him after all these years. Share a story, well wishes, congrats or even photos.
News & Stories
Best of Madison Voting 2026
We are excited to announce that your Madison Symphony Orchestra has been nominated in the Classical Music Group section for Best of Madison 2026! Voting is now LIVE running from June 1st-30th and you can help by casting a vote for with the instructions below:
1. Click HERE to go to the voting page.
2. Scroll down and click on the Arts & Entertainment category
3. Find the Classical Music Group section
4. Click the Vote button next to Madison Symphony Orchestra
5. Enter your Email to register
6. Hit Submit!
Have questions? Check out the Best of Madison FAQ.
Remember! You can only vote once per category this round.
Voting closes on June 30!
2026-2027 Symphony Subscriptions!
Welcome to the next century of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. Come experience the 2026-2027 season as it brims with orchestral masterworks, world-class soloists and conductors, sonic power and passion, and the arrival of the soon-to-be-announced new music director. Madison Symphony Orchestra’s 2026-2027 season will be a journey of newness, artistry and innovation. There is no better way to explore the season than to subscribe. You’ll get the best seats in the stunning Overture Hall before they go on sale to the wider public, and you’ll enjoy substantial savings while you are at it!
2026-2027 Organ Subscriptions Are Live!
The 26-27 organ season promises a dynamic and inspiring lineup of performances. You’ll first experience a Sunday matinee featuring an all-Bach program that I’m honored to perform. In November, we’ll celebrate the legendary Celia Cruz with a vibrant tribute featuring Lucrecia and the Celia Cruz All-Stars, marking 100 years of her extraordinary legacy. February brings the highly anticipated Overture debut of Raúl Prieto Ramírez, and the season concludes in May with a joyful collaboration alongside the Madison Youth Choirs. It’s a season full of energy, artistry, and celebration! – Greg Zelek
Celebrating Your Support
An Evening of Gratitude Celebrates Donors
Every spring, the MSO hosts An Evening of Gratitude, an event in appreciation of the Symphony’s generous individual donors who give at or above the Vivace level. A record-breaking turnout of over one hundred guests attended on Tuesday, May 19th at the Nakoma Golf Club.
Community Events To Check Out!
Make Music Madison 2026
June 21st, 2026
Make Music Madison is a free, citywide day of music every June 21. We are part of Make Music Day, a celebration that occurs in 1,000+ cities across the globe. Madison began participating in 2013 and now boasts the largest event in the country. Parks, porches, restaurants, shops, worship spaces and more fill with music for all to enjoy!
Learn More
Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra: Joel & John: Piano Men Legends
June 24th, 2026
The 2026 Season kickoff features a no-holds-barred celebration of two piano-rock legends. Jeans ’n Classics joins the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra for a hit-packed night of Billy Joel and Elton John favorites—from Scenes from an Italian Restaurant to My Life and Bennie and the Jets, audiences can expect big hooks and even bigger choruses. With a crowd that’s bound to know every word—this will be quite a way to kick off the season.
Learn More
Wisconsin Union Theater: Madison Jazz Festival 2026
June 26th-27th, 2026
Get ready to get things started at the 2026 Madison Jazz Festival. With a mix of free and ticketed events across nine days, experience everything from cool bossa nova to colossal bop, from world fusion wonders to the future of funk, performed by international stars, best-kept-secret industry insiders, and local favorites. And don’t forget to come to the Terrace on June 26–27 for acts all afternoon and evening.
Learn More
Receive Symphony Email News!
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