# Concerts on the Square

The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra's Concerts on the Square is a free outdoor concert series held each summer in Madison on the lawn of the Wisconsin State Capitol. The series consists of six concerts on Wednesday evenings with a rain date of Thursday in the case of inclement weather. It has been called "The Biggest Picnic of Summer" and "Quintessential Madison". 2023 marked the 40th season.
Each Wednesday, the street opens at 5 PM and attendees can grab food from the vendors on the street and beverages from the WCO beverage tents. There's also Concerts on the Square merchandise to peruse. For frequently asked questions, attendees can visit wcoconcerts.org/cos and click on the FAQ link.
The series costs approximately $1.1 MM to produce and according to an economic impact study performed in 2023, provides over $15 MM in economic value to downtown Madison over the course of six weeks in the summer.
Concerts on the Square is funded through Corporate and Business sponsorships, Individual donations, and table reservations. Table reservations can be made by the general public and are tax-deductible contributions. To learn more about how to support this over 40 year tradition, you can visit wcoconcerts.org/support
In 2023 Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra founded the Volunteer Affiliate program, allowing small local businesses to support the event series through the value of volunteer time. In exchanges, the six selected businesses receive brand recognition leading up to and at the events.
43°4′28″N 89°23′5″W﻿ / ﻿43.07444°N 89.38472°W﻿ / 43.07444; -89.38472
About the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
No other arts organization in Wisconsin performs free for more people each year.
Founded in 1960, the Orchestra is built on a foundation of quality musicianship with top-tier musicians. As a smaller ensemble, the WCO is able to showcase music at an intimate level, providing attendees with a unique experience. Under the direction of Music Director Andrew Sewell, the WCO makes classical music accessible to the community from concert halls to Madison’s Capitol Square, reaching over 250,000 music lovers annually.
The WCO is driven in their mission to strengthen communities through innovative, high-quality artistic experiences that entertain, inspire, and unite diverse audiences.
Core artistic programs include the four-decade tradition of Concerts on the Square$^®$, the Masterworks Series at the Overture Center for the Arts, annual performances of Handel’s Messiah, educational programming and concerts for families and children that serve over 2000 youth each year and performing with local arts groups like Madison Ballet. In 2023, the WCO launched the Composer Collective series with a five-year, five-album project titled Musical Landscapes in Color with the goal of expanding the orchestral canon to include new works by living composers of color.
The WCO strives to create a vibrant and inclusive space where music creates a sense of togetherness and connection, because music is always better when shared with friends and a community. They're dedicated to finding new ways to collaborate and partner with local groups in our community.
As a member of the League of American Orchestras (LOAO), they take their commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion seriously. Working with Nehemiah, Inc. through the Catalyst Incubator Grant with LOAO, their goal is to become a cultural ambassador to Madison while creating relationships that allow for authentic conversation, partnerships, and accessibility to musical experiences.
While headquartered in Madison, the WCO believes in extending their mission to communities across Wisconsin when there are opportunities to do so. To learn more visit wcoconcerts.org.
* 1 2 3 Hildebr, Charlie (6 March 2023). "Concerts on the Square returns for 40th season". WMTV. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
* ↑ Christians, Lindsay (9 April 2020). "Updated: Concerts on the Square moves five weeks, to start July 28". The Cap Times. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
* ↑ Christians, Lindsay (6 March 2023). "Concerts on the Square returns this summer with big screens and ballet". The Cap Times. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
* ↑ "History - Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra". Archived from the original on 2013-06-01. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
* This Wisconsin-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
* v
* t
* e