Under the artistic leadership of Music Director
John DeMain (hailed as "a gifted orchestra builder" by the New York Times) the Madison Symphony Orchestra has grown to be one of America's leading regional orchestras. "It was tempting," said The New York Times," to compare this regional orchestra with a major international ensemble, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra...."

Now it its 85th Season, the Madison Symphony Orchestra enriches the cultural and educational environment of south central Wisconsin with exquisite performances of the great masterworks and top-tier guest artists from around the world. With an unrivaled community of support, the Symphony brings nearly 50,000 concert-goers to performances each season and serves nearly 32,000 children and adults through its nationally recognized Education and Community Engagement Programs.

The MSO performs in Overture Hall, a state-of-the art, acoustically excellent hall that opened to critical and audience acclaim in September 2004. The MSO is the owner and steward of the Overture Concert Organ. With 4,040 pipes and a one-of-a-kind movable installation, the instrument is among the most significant concert organs in the country.

A rich and entertaining Special Events Schedule continues throughout the year, giving everyone the chance to enjoy the beauty of music. From Parties of Note to Concert on the Green, there's something for everyone.

The MSO believes that great music is for everyone. Our Education and Community Engagement Programs bring the joy of music to more than 32,000 children and adults annually. These programs are consistently recognized by national funding agencies-- including the National Endowment for the Arts, the League of American Orchestras and the Society for the Arts in Healthcare--as models of excellence.

The mission of the Madison Symphony Orchestra is to produce high-quality concerts of instrumental, vocal and choral music; to educate and entertain audience members of all ages in the Madison area and beyond; and to advocate music as a universal language of human expression and understanding.

MSO Trombonist and Program Notes Annotator, Michael Allsen, prepared a comprehensive history of the orchestra through its 75th anniversary season (2000-2001). His historical pages also contain links to recent articles he has contributed to the Wisconsin State Journal.