S P E C I A L F E AT U R E : 2 0 2 4 – 2 0 2 5 Y E A R - I N - R E V I E W support. Through four Young People’s Concerts tailored to specific grade levels, the annual Bolz Competition/Final Forte, the MSO on the Go community concert in Waunakee, and the HeartStrings® and Up Close & Musical® outreach programs, our musicians reached deep and wide into our community.
A SY M P H O N Y O F G R AT I T U D E TO O U R S U P P O R T E R S
But the music didn’t stop there! Last season also marked the 20th Anniversary of the Overture Concert Organ. Four highly engaging and varied organ programs, expertly curated by our Principal Organist and Curator, Greg Zelek, exceeded expectations by all measures. Greg’s spring collaboration with alumni members of the Empire Brass attracted the largest audience ever for one of our organ concerts. I continue to marvel at the growing popularity of these programs that showcase our magnificent organ.
The Madison Symphony Orchestra
2024–2025 Reflections from the Podium by John DeMain, Music Director Our 99th Season was truly spectacular from start to finish! We opened the 2024-2025 Season with a nod to the 20th Anniversary of Overture Hall and the Overture Concert Organ with our principal organist, Greg Zelek, performing Jongen’s Symphonie Concertante. Cellist Tommy Mesa performed an effortless rendition of the Variations on a Rococo Theme by Tchaikovsky, Umoja by Valerie Coleman and Da Falla’s Suite No. 2 from The Three-Cornered Hat rounded out the program. The October program featured guest conductor Nicholas Hersh and the brilliant and beautiful violinist, Kelly Hall-Tompkins in an imaginative and evocative program of works by Anna Clyne, Vaughan Williams, Ravel, and Berlioz. In November, guest conductor Michael Stern opened with Leshnoff’s Rush for Orchestra and was joined by pianist Garrick Ohlsson for the Grieg Piano Concerto, finishing with Shostakovich’s enormous Fifth Symphony. 18
madisonsymphony.org
Our annual Christmas concerts, which always feature joyous collaborations with the Madison Symphony Chorus, Mt. Zion Gospel Choir, Madison Youth Choirs and guest opera stars—this year soprano Vanessa Becerra and baritone Craig Irvin—unofficially kicked off the holiday season. Working with siblings Gil and Orli Shaham, and the incredible up-andcoming cellist Sterling Elliott, in our January all-Beethoven program, was a dream come true, both for me and for the donor who conceived of this concert and provided the lead gift to make it happen. In March, the audience was transported to an otherworldly place through absolutely gorgeous performances of Strauss’ Four Last Songs, sung so beautifully by Amanda Majeski, and Mozart’s Requiem showcasing the Madison Symphony Chorus and guest soloists Amanda Majeski, Kirsten Lippart, Martin Luther Clark and Matt Boehler.
The April concert—featuring works by Barber, Kevin Puts and Prokofiev, led by guest conductor Joseph Young and showcasing the genre-bending string trio Time for Three—was exciting and dramatic! Finally, in May, soloists Philippe Bianconi, Michelle Johnson, and Eric Greene joined the orchestra, the Madison Symphony Chorus, and me for an allGershwin program that included beloved songs from Gershwin’s great American opera, Porgy and Bess—a work that has played a special role in my life and career as an American conductor. MSO’s Associate Conductor, Kyle Knox, led two MSO at the Movies events: Coco in October, and the original Star Wars: A New Hope in February. In June, I conducted more stirring movie music in our Symphony at Sunset: Hooray for Hollywood benefit concert and dinner, presented in partnership with the Madison Symphony Orchestra League.
In addition to the ticketed concerts, the MSO continued our commitment to making live music accessible through free and low-cost education and community engagement programming, all made possible by generous donor
I commend the wonderful musicians of the Madison Symphony Orchestra who pour such love and passion into everything they perform, regardless of the venue or who is sitting in the audience. They are truly gifted professionals, and working with them is a joy and privilege.
I M PA C T 2024-2025 ORCHESTRA SEASON IN REVIEW
35,597 Total Tickets 21 Orchestral Masterpieces Performed 1 Guest Ensemble 10 Guest Soloists 3 Guest Conductors
Thank you to all who joined us in Overture Hall in our 99th Season. Your presence, support, and applause mean everything to us. See you in the 100th!
– John DeMain Music Director
“Working with siblings Gil and Orli Shaham, and the incredible up-and-coming cellist Sterling Elliott, in our January all-Beethoven program, was a dream come true...” “Wow, there are simply no words to describe this year’s performance. From the first Joy To The World, we knew we were in for something special. We’ve attended the Christmas concert for several years now, and this truly was the BEST EVER!!” “Everything was perfect! One of the most enjoyable performances in our 7 years of being a subscriber.”
2024-2025YEAR-IN-REVIEW
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