Stradivarius is an icon of permanence and value in the musical world. The rare quality of the great master's instruments places them in a class of their own. Stradivarius Society members create an equally permanent musical legacy for all generations to come.

As we welcome charter members to the Stradivarius Society, Nancy Becknell, Mike Pritzkow and Peter Livingston, lead members of this new circle, express their reasons for including the MSO in their long-term giving plans.

"I was a member of the MSO French horn section from 1956 through 1993 and have incredible memories from those years. I got to watch the Symphony grow through three conductors, and the changes have been amazing. I remember the Symphony’s first rehearsal with Roland Johnson sounding better than any concert we’d ever played before. Then John DeMain came and we sounded even better! My last year in 1993, I was able to play one concert with John DeMain before I retired from the orchestra after 37 years.

"I still have such wonderful friendships with the other musicians. That’s been one of the best things—the people you meet through the Symphony. I could never express my thanks to the Madison community for these fantastic experiences, but I can help make sure the Symphony continues. The Madison Symphony Orchestra has always been my first priority for charitable giving, and I have included the Symphony in my will so that future generations can experience the same thrill I did—for 37 years from the stage and the last 14 from the audience."

“The arts are so important--music makes life what it is. I started playing the piano by ear at a young age and so my parents decided to get me piano lessons. However, when I was growing up, the only piano lessons available were classical lessons and I hated classical music. I used to try to jazz up the moonlight sonata and it drove my teacher crazy. But eventually I came to love classical music (although my parents did stop the piano lessons).

As a parent, I wanted my children to share my love of music. Our neighbor was an instrument maker and we started my daughter on the viola and she loved it. Now it’s something our family enjoys together. Music is just so important. Of course I give annually to the Madison Symphony Orchestra and will continue to do so, but I want to make sure that the music keeps happening.

"All I did was earmark a part of my life insurance policy and named the Madison Symphony Orchestra as the beneficiary. It was so easy. Of course, I’ve told my kids about it so they know what I have done and they understand how important the Symphony is to me.

"I just want to make sure that the music continues.”

"Music has been an integral part of my life since I can remember. It fills my home today as it did my parents' long ago. Music supports me in times of joy and soothes in times of stress. For me, it is another language, one of emotion and energy. As a long-time subscriber to MSO concerts, I have had the pleasure of seeing and hearing live performances that moved and uplifted me. When thinking of a suitable way to memorialize my mother, the gift of a top-quality piano to the MSO was a natural choice.

"But I also wanted to be able to leave my own legacy to the MSO. Music is too important to me, to my family, to the whole community. None of us can afford to assume that the job of keeping the music playing can be left to others. I have named the MSO in my will so it can continue to bring quality music to the community -- and so that others can enjoy the music in their own ways."