Symphony Story, 100 Years Together in Music Presentation

DESIGN

ART

WRITING

EDITING

PHOTOS

PUBLIC

Peter Alden Rodgers served as Director of Marketing for the Madison Symphony Orchestra from July 2016 through December 2025. He was a part of the 100th Anniversary Steering Committee for more than three years leading up to the launch of the season in September 2025 and led public relations, advertising and marketing campaigns. The 25/26 symphony season launched in April of 2025 with a commemorative brochure for renewing subscribers and invitations to single ticket buyers and general audiences to become new subscribers. The design featured a timeline roll-out with highlights from MSO’s century of history. The body of the piece was common to both the renewing and new versions. Customized designs and messaging were created with variable data for the insert booklets, letters, and fundraising appeals. The direct mail brochure along with website presentations, emails, social media, online promotions, billboards, airport kiosks, posters, broadcast, print and online ads, resulted in 86% of subscribers choosing to renew. Peter contributed to the League of American Orchestra’s Public Relations Constituency as a leadership member for the past five years. This presentation mirrors what he shared in a session at the 2025 League Conference. The published brochure and ads featured eight primary concerts, two MSO at the Movies live to film concerts, plus two single opening celebration single concerts, opening events, and a preview of the June 2026 Centennial Festival Weekend.

Voices Eternal

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is often described as “fate knocking at the door.” The symphony reflects his personal struggle with adversity and his triumph over despair — bursting with vitality, defiance, and an unshakable belief in the human spirit — transcending time to become a symbol and voice of resilience, freedom, and hope. Looking to the future, the MSO has commissioned composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer to create a world premiere work in celebration of our 100th Anniversary. EARTH: A Choral Symphony will celebrate our beautiful planet and shared humanity. Composed in four movements, the piece explores themes of truth and possibility, with each movement touching on a different aspect of the wonder of Earth and our place in its story. John DeMain and the Madison Symphony Orchestra, famed Met Opera soprano Ailyn Pérez, and three choruses, will weave together elements of the story in these world premiere performances. We invite you to witness the birth of this dramatic new work that will speak of our Earth — the vibrant place we share together.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Myrna Larson

MAJOR SPONSORS

Ballweg

JAKE HEGGIE

Arguably the world’s most popular 21st-century opera and art song composer… – The Wall Street Journal

Be part of the experience.

Her voice has a distinctive timbre, with plaintive richness blended into its youthful bloom ... Ms. Pérez, a beautiful woman who commands the stage, has the makings of a major soprano.

– The New York Times

MUSIC

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

JAKE HEGGIE/ GENE SCHEER

EARTH: A Choral Symphony World Premiere

MT. ZION GOSPEL CHOIR

Tamera & Leotha Stanley, Directors

YOUTH CHOIRS

Michael Ross, Artistic Director

madisonsymphony.org/ voices

9x9 flat / finished, history timeline roll-out

• 9x9 flat / finished, renewal insert, 7x7 flat

• 9x9 flat / finished, insert, 7x7

• 9x9 flat / finished, insert, 7x7

• 9x9 flat / finished, insert, 7x7

• 9x9 flat / finished, insert, 7x7 flat, back

SUBSCRIBER / PACKAGING / CUSTOMIZED LETTERS & DONATION FORM

PRINT AD / BROCHURE INSERT

KIOSK POSTER / TWO PAGE NEWSPAPER PRINT AD