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 May 2026 E-News & Stories.
- MSO Upcoming Concerts & Events
- Rhapsodie Quartet Recital
- Centennial Festival Weekend
- News & Stories
- Help Celebrate John DeMain
- 26/27 Symphony Subscriptions
- 26/27 Organ Subscriptions
- Celebrating Your Support
- “Pedals and Pipes” Celebrates Organ Supporters
- Community Events
- Verona Area Concert Band
- Madison Ballet
- Forward Theater
- CTM
- Looking Forward To Next Month
- Festival Family Concert
- Festival Organ Performance
- Festival Symphony Concert
MSO Upcoming Concerts & Events
The Rhapsodie Quartet, made up of MSO’s Co-Concertmaster Suzanne Beia, violinist Laura Burns, violist Melissa Snell, and Principal Cellist Karl Lavine, are excited to put on this free performance in Promenade Hall at Overture Center!
Event Details
When: May 19th at 7:00 pm
Location: Overture Center – Promenade Hall
Tickets: FREE
Join us for our Centennial Festival Weekend, a FREE two-day festival celebration in which musicians and diverse community groups will perform on a rotating schedule throughout various spaces in Overture Center for the Arts including a MSO Family Concert, Organ Performance and Symphony Concert.
Event Details
When: June 13th & 14th from 8:30 am – 9:00 pm
Location: Overture Center for the Arts
Tickets: FREE**
**RSVP to let us know you are coming & be entered into a raffle!
We are also looking for volunteers to help out with all the amazing events during Centennial Festival Weekend. If you can smile and greet others you have what we are looking for! Sign Up To Volunteer
News & Stories
Help Celebrate John DeMain!
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. We will share this with him after the Symphony Concert on June 14th during Festival Weekend.
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
“Pedals and Pipes” Celebrates Organ Supporters
We love celebrating our donors! Friends of the Overture Concert Organ’s J.S. Bach Society and Curator Circle members recently gathered for the “Pedals and Pipes” appreciation event with Greg Zelek. Guests enjoyed refreshments and a musical bouquet of thanks performed by Greg, along with Casey and Meranda from our development staff.
Community Events To Check Out!
Verona Area Concert Bands: 15 Years
May 14th, 2026
The Verona Area Community Bands (VACB) are performing their spring concert, “15 Years”, in the VAHS Performing Arts Center on Thursday, May 14th at 7:30 PM. VACB concerts are free admission. Come to enjoy classic and modern band music, featuring Holst, Mackey, Whitacre, Ticheli, and more, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the founding of VACB.
Learn More
Madison Ballet: Innovation II
May 8th-9th, 2026
In this invigorating artistic initiative, the dancers of Madison Ballet step into the role of choreographer, creating new works on one another. “Re:Invent – Innovation II” turns the traditional dynamic on its head, offering a rare glimpse into the creative potential of our artists as they explore storytelling, movement and collaboration from a fresh, reinvented vantage point. Following each performance, join our discussion with the company artist behind this innovative program
Learn More
Forward Theater: Wisconsin Wrights New Play Festival
May 13th-15th, 2026
Three plays in three nights. Written by Wisconsin playwrights.
The goal of Forward Theater Company and Wisconsin Wrights is to support and develop new theatrical work, via a biennial new play festival that features up to three works by Wisconsin playwrights. After a submission and selection process, selected playwrights communicate with professional directors, dramaturgs, and actors to develop their plays, culminating in public readings at the festival. Each night is dedicated to a single play.
Learn More
Children’s Theater of Madison: Disney’s Newsies The Musical
May 2nd-17th, 2026
When powerful New York newspaper publishers raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack Kelly rallies his ragtag group of “newsies” to fight back. Inspired by true events, this high-energy musical tells the story of young people discovering their voice and proving that courage and determination can change the world. Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Jack Feldman. Book by Harvey Fierstein. A musical based on the Disney film.
Learn More
Looking Forward To Next Month!
Festival Family Concert
When: Saturday, June 13th at 11:00 am
Where: Overture Hall
Ticket Cost: FREE
Festival Organ Performance
When: Saturday, June 13th at 4:30 pm
Where: Overture Hall
Ticket Cost: FREE
Festival Symphony Concert
When: Sunday, June 14th at 4:30 pm
Where: Overture Hall
Ticket Cost: FREE
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