What's Our Jam

Music brings people together. It creates connections, introduces new perspectives, and gives us the chance to experience something alongside people we might not otherwise meet.

At the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, we believe our community is stronger when more people have the opportunity to participate, feel welcome, and see themselves reflected in the experiences we create. That means thinking beyond the music on stage: whose stories we're telling, whose voices we're hearing, who has access, and how we're showing up for the community we serve.

We call this commitment Purposeful Diversity, one of three pillars of our organizational Strategic Plan. It's not a standalone initiative or a box to check. It's part of how we make decisions, build relationships, approach our programming, and continue to grow.

A great jam brings different voices and perspectives together to create something meaningful. This is our jam at the WCO.
 

More Than Music

Putting our commitment into action means trying new things, asking different questions, building relationships, and being willing to rethink how we've always done things. Over the past several years, we've invested in understanding our organization, expanding our programming, and strengthening connections throughout Madison.
 

Getting to Know Ourselves and Our Community
Through a multi-year Catalyst Incubator grant from the League of American Orchestras, WCO partnered with Madison's Nehemiah Urban Development to take a closer look at our internal and external culture. Together, we explored how we work, engage with the community, and build relationships, identifying opportunities to grow and become a more meaningful cultural partner in Madison.

Making Room for More Voices
Launched in 2023, Musical Landscapes in Color is a five-year, five-album initiative celebrating living Black American composers. Through performances, recordings, and composer engagement, we're expanding the orchestral repertoire and bringing more musical perspectives into the concert experience.
 

Creating Opportunities to Connect
Our work extends beyond the concert hall. Through the UW Odyssey Project, students connect with composers and musicians while exploring music and creativity. Our Super Strings program provides young musicians with violin instruction and ensemble experiences. We've also brought musical traditions together through a hip-hop collaboration featuring local artists Rob Dz and Leotha Stanley.
 

Building Relationships
Meaningful community engagement starts with relationships. We're continuing to build connections with organizations like Nehemiah Center for Urban Development and the Center for Black Excellence, learning from community leaders and exploring new opportunities for connection. Being part of a community means more than inviting people to what we're doing. It means showing up, listening, and finding ways to be part of what's already happening.
 

Where We Go From Here

This work doesn't have a final performance date. Building an organization where more people feel welcomed, represented, and connected takes time, curiosity, and a willingness to keep learning. As we look ahead, we're continuing to bring Purposeful Diversity into the everyday work of WCO:

  • Keep listening. Learn from the experiences, perspectives, and interests of our community, including people we haven't connected with yet.
  • Keep building relationships. Develop meaningful partnerships with local organizations, educators, artists, and community leaders.
  • Keep expanding the experience. Explore new music, places, and ways for people to connect with WCO.
  • Keep looking inward. Continue examining our practices and finding ways to make our workplace and public experiences more welcoming and accessible.
  • Keep making room. Create more opportunities for people to see themselves in WCO as musicians, students, audience members, partners, supporters, and friends.

We know there's always more to learn and more we can do. We plan to keep showing up, asking questions, and making room for more voices. We believe that music can inspire a better community, and the best things happen when everyone has a part to play.