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Friends of the Overture Concert Organ
Thank you to everyone who supported us during our 2023-24 season! SAVE THE DATE: Our 2025 Voices of Spring event will be held on May 23, 2025! Feel free to take a peek at photos from last year!
The 2024-2025 season celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Overture Concert Organ. The Madison Symphony Orchestra owns and exclusively programs concerts for the Overture Concert Organ, which can be seen behind the orchestra during any of our concerts. We are one of the few orchestras in the country to curate an entire season of organ music, in addition to our main stage concerts. The Overture Concert Organ is an incredible, unique instrument which provides us the opportunity to share with our community an important branch of classical music.
Friends of the Overture Concert Organ play an important role in supporting organ programming. Through their annual memberships, they help:
- Bring you live performances by some of the best organists in the world
- Produce a variety of free education and outreach programs including demonstrations and masterclasses, to benefit our community
- Tune and maintain the Overture Concert Organ
Consider becoming a Friends of the Overture Concert Organ (FOCO) member to show your support of this truly unique aspect of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. For a limited time only, new members are invited to join at a special introductory rate of just $20 for the 20th Anniversary Season. Renewing memberships begin at $35. More information about membership levels can be found below.
Friends of the Overture Concert Organ operates as part of the Madison Symphony Orchestra, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions to the MSO are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Friends of the Overture Concert Organ Member Benefits
Friend: $35 (renewing members)
20th Anniversary Special: First Time Friends are invited to join for just $20! This special introductory membership rate is only available to new members for a limited time, in celebration of the Organ’s 20th Anniversary Season.
Benefits Available to Members at the Friend Level
- Name listed in Organ program books
- Special member communications
- Invitation to Showcasing the Organ events
- Invitation to FOCO Annual Meeting
Choir: $100
Benefits Available to Members at the Choir Level
- Two complimentary beverage vouchers redeemable before or during any subscription organ concert*
- Name listed in Madison Symphony Orchestra program books
Plus Benefits from the Previous Level
- Name listed in Organ program books
- Special member communications
- Invitation to Showcasing the Organ events
- Invitation to FOCO Annual Meeting
*Benefits marked with an asterisk (*) have a fair market value and may reduce the tax-deductibility of your gift. Check with your financial advisor for details regarding your eligibility to receive these benefits if you make your gift through a donor-advised fund or private foundation.
Swell: $150
Benefits Available to Members at the Swell Level
- Invitation to one post-concert reception following a subscription organ concert with complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres, and the opportunity to mingle with Greg Zelek, guest artist(s), and fellow supporters
Plus Benefits from Previous Levels
- Name listed in Organ program books
- Special member communications
- Invitation to Showcasing the Organ events
- Invitation to FOCO Annual Meeting
- Two complimentary beverage vouchers redeemable before or during any subscription organ concert*
- Name listed in Madison Symphony Orchestra program books
- Early access to single tickets during subscriber courtesy days
*Benefits marked with an asterisk (*) have a fair market value and may reduce the tax-deductibility of your gift. Check with your financial advisor for details regarding your eligibility to receive these benefits if you make your gift through a donor-advised fund or private foundation.
Great: $300
Benefits Available to Members at the Great Level
- Invitations to all post-concert receptions following subscription organ concerts
Plus Benefits from Previous Levels
- Name listed in Organ program books
- Special member communications
- Invitation to Showcasing the Organ events
- Invitation to FOCO Annual Meeting
- Two complimentary beverage vouchers redeemable before or during any subscription organ concert*
- Name listed in Madison Symphony Orchestra program books
- Early access to single tickets during subscriber courtesy days
*Benefits marked with an asterisk (*) have a fair market value and may reduce the tax-deductibility of your gift. Check with your financial advisor for details regarding your eligibility to receive these benefits if you make your gift through a donor-advised fund or private foundation.
J.S. Bach Society: $650
Benefits Available to Members of the J.S. Bach Society
- Private, reserved parking* for organ concerts and events
- Invitation to a special donor appreciation event with Greg Zelek
Plus Benefits from Previous Levels
- Name listed in Organ program books
- Special member communications
- Invitation to Showcasing the Organ events
- Invitation to FOCO Annual Meeting
- Two complimentary beverage vouchers redeemable before or during any subscription organ concert*
- Name listed in Madison Symphony Orchestra program books
- Early access to single tickets during subscriber courtesy days
- Invitations to all post-concert receptions following subscription organ concerts
*Benefits marked with an asterisk (*) have a fair market value and may reduce the tax-deductibility of your gift. Check with your financial advisor for details regarding your eligibility to receive these benefits if you make your gift through a donor-advised fund or private foundation.
Curator Circle: $1,000 and Above
Benefits Available to Members of the Curator Circle
- Custom benefits according to your interests
Plus Benefits from Previous Levels
- Name listed in Organ program books
- Special member communications
- Invitation to Showcasing the Organ events
- Invitation to FOCO Annual Meeting
- Two complimentary beverage vouchers redeemable before or during any subscription organ concert*
- Name listed in Madison Symphony Orchestra program books
- Early access to single tickets during subscriber courtesy days
- Invitations to all post-concert receptions following subscription organ concerts
- Private, reserved parking* for organ concerts and events
*Benefits marked with an asterisk (*) have a fair market value and may reduce the tax-deductibility of your gift. Check with your financial advisor for details regarding your eligibility to receive these benefits if you make your gift through a donor-advised fund or private foundation.
Other ways to give
Give by phone
Call our office at (608) 257-3734 to make a membership gift by credit card over the phone.
Mail your gift
Make your check payable to:
Friends of the Overture Concert Organ
Attn: Meranda Dooley
222 W. Washington Ave., Suite 460
Madison, WI 53703
Make a gift of stock
The MSO is able to accept gifts of stock. Click here for detailed instructions on how to make a membership gift of stock.
Employer Matching Gifts
Many companies will match gifts of current and/or retired employees. Check with your Personnel, Benefits, or Community Relations department to find out if your employer will match your gift
Donor Advised Fund
To make a gift through your Donor-Advised Fund held by Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, BNY Mellon Charitable Gift Fund, click here.
If your Donor-Advised Fund is held by a different financial institution, such as the Madison Community Foundation, contact them directly to make your gift.
Please note, contributions made from a donor-advised fund are not eligible to receive any benefits that would otherwise reduce the tax-deductibility of your gift. For more information about these restrictions, please contact your financial adviser or the MSO Development Office.
Friends of the Overture Concert Organ operates as part of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. Please include Friends of the Overture Concert Organ or FOCO in the gift designation.
IRA Distribution
Individuals who are 70 ½ or older can make tax free gifts of up to $100,000 each year to the MSO directly from their Individual Retirement Accounts. Consult your financial adviser for more information.
Please note, contributions made as Qualified Charitable Distributions from an IRA are not eligible to receive any benefits that would otherwise reduce the tax-deductibility of your gift. For more information about these restrictions, please contact your financial adviser or the MSO Development Office.
Contact
Meranda Dooley, Manager of Individual Giving, at mdooley@madisonsymphony.org or (608) 260-8680 ext. 233.