UnMuted is made possible through collaboration with East High School, Memorial High School, Madison Metropolitan School District, Madison Public Library and Journey Mental Health.
A student-centered series exploring mental health through music and the power of expression.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
UnMuted is a multi-session arts and wellness program for Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) students, combining original live music, spoken word, and mental health support to encourage creative expression, emotional honesty, and peer connection. The 2026-27 pilot, presented with East High School and Memorial High School, is designed to grow into an annual offering within MMSD.
Students explore three themes that matter to young people today: Self-Advocacy (recognizing their needs and asking for help), Social Media & Artificial Intelligence (digital identity, comparison culture, and mental wellness), and Peer Pressure & Bullying (courage, healthy boundaries, and bystander skills).
UnMuted is built on the belief that creative expression is a pathway to healing, voice, and belonging. It centers on three outcomes: mental wellness, artistic expression, and community connection.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Fall Session | October 22: Students meet the artists, experience live music and spoken word, and receive a creative assignment of their own.
Wellness Check-In | January 2027: Journey Mental Health leads a check-in and debrief on how students are engaging and how their assignments are progressing.
Winter Session | February 12, 2027: Students share and perform their completed work in a student showcase.
MEET THE COMPOSER: Autumn Maria Reed
Autumn Maria Reed is a Wisconsin-based composer, orchestrator, and sound designer and Berklee alumna. She has composed for theater Music Theatre of Madison, Are We Delicious?, and KR Women’s Theatre and orchestras River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (ROCO), Brazil’s Orquestra Sinfônica Teatro Nacional Claudio Santoro (OSTNCS), Chicago Philharmonic. She collaborates with The Black String Triage Ensemble and Black Diaspora Symphony Orchestra, performing and composing music for trauma victims. Passionate about mental health advocacy, she enjoys time with family. Read Autumn's full bio here.
