Bringing centuries of music to life for students across Dane County.
Our Youth Concerts offer K-12 students the chance to experience timeless scores and soundwaves that have been around for centuries. Held in Capitol Theater of the Overture Center, these concerts connect music to the classroom, providing an engaging and educational field trip within their own community. With a study guide for teachers that aligns with Wisconsin’s curriculum, these concerts offer both students and educators an inspiring and enriching experience that deepens their appreciation for the arts.
This year, we’re offering a pay-what-you-can pricing model, making it easier for more students to experience the transformative power of live music. By removing financial barriers, we aim to ensure that every student, regardless of background, has the opportunity to engage with and be inspired by the music that has shaped our culture for centuries. Your support helps us bring this enriching experience to even more youth across Dane County.
Sound Explorers: Inside the Mind of the Composer
MAY 22, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Capitol Theater, Overture Center
Discover how music is built — step by step, idea by idea.
Discover. Listen. Imagine. Join us on May 22, 2026 at 10 AM for this year’s live Orchestra adventure as real-life Sound Explorers! Get inside the mind of a composer and learn how music is brought to life, step by step through rhythm, expression, melody, and more in this interactive 45-minute performance. Engage with Music Director Andrew Sewell and learn from the real musicians of the WCO as your students hear works by Beethoven and Haydn and are inspired by a solo performance from the runner up in our 2026 Young Artist Concerto Competition. Plus, receive a cross-curricular study guide that meets Wisconsin learning standards full of classroom activities to get your students familiar with the repertoire, composers, and how to attend a live concert! Discover how music is built, imagine the mind of the composer, and listen as the music comes to life with us.
PAY WHAT YOU CAN TICKETS
SIGN UP BY DECEMBER 1, 2025
SPACE IS LIMITED
Music Educators
Educators have access to a variety of resources tailored for music education
