Concerts on the Square tickets on sale June 4

The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra announces two significant updates to our perennial summer classical concert series, Concerts on the Square ^®. First, all Concerts on the Square will be performed at Breese Stevens Field as planned on Wednesdays, July 7-August 4. Because of current Public Health Madison & Dane County recommendations, high vaccination rates and low infection rate, the WCO is able to expand our seating capacity.

“We’re working in lock-step with the PHMDC team, and based on the end of local public health orders on June 2, we are safely expanding our projected concert audience size from 1,500 to 5,000,” says Joe Loehnis, CEO of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra.

Loehnis adds, “We know orders are lifted, and we want to meet everyone where they’re at. We want to respect that people have different comfort levels in public spaces. Going from our initial plan of 1,500 to 5,000 today, and eventually back to a full-on Concert on the Square with 50,000 people, is step-by-step.”

All concerts will be live-streamed at wcoconcerts.org for free so more Madisonians can experience this 38-year tradition. “We are filled with gratitude to be able to perform live for an audience, for our hometown, and for people across the community with our livestreamed summer concerts,” says Maestro Andrew Sewell.

Second, tickets for the 5-concert series at Breese Stevens Field go on sale on Friday, June 4 at 10 AM on wcoconcerts.org and Breese Stevens Field’s website. Concerts are scheduled for Wednesdays at 7 PM on July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28 and August 4.

Concerts on the Square Ticket Pricing:

• Blanket Pods for up to 6 people: $50 (for up to 6)
  • Reserve a Blanket Pod for all 5 concerts for $200 ($50 off).
  • Blanket Pods are approximately 8’ x 8’ spaced 6’ apart.
  • 100 Blanket Pods per concert on the field. Bring your own blanket.
• General Admission Bleacher Seat: $10 / $5 for Children 12 and Under
  • No spacing restrictions are required in the bleacher seating.
• Reserved Seats: $12
  • No spacing restrictions are required in the reserved barstool seating.

Ticket sales are new to this 38-year summer concert series. “Reserving your seat this summer helps maintain a safe audience size, and all funds raised by ticket sales will support the wages for our musicians,” says Loehnis. “It is important for our orchestra and the community that we keep our musicians employed and working through COVID-19.”

At the concerts, masking is strongly encouraged, especially for those not fully vaccinated. Masks should be worn until patrons get to their seats. Socially-distanced blanket pod seating and patron tables on the field will remain 6’ apart to offer audience members a safe-distancing option as the community returns to live music experiences.

No food or beverage, nor picnic baskets, are allowed into Breese Stevens Field. However, food, beverages, wine and beer will be available for purchase inside.

Concerts on the Square 2021 Program:

July 7  Summon the Heroes, an Independence Day Celebration

July 14  Bringing Us Together - Put A Little Love in Your Heart, featuring Leotha Stanley and Friends

July 21  Shakespeare in Love, featuring Xavier Foley, bass soloist, Young Concert Artist

July 28  Disco Inferno, featuring Jeans ‘n Classics

August 4  Tchaikovsky Rocks, with Maxim Lando, piano, 2020 Gilmore Young Artist 

Program subject to change

To keep up-to-date with Concerts on the Square schedules, sign-up for email updates on the WCO website, or follow the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra on Facebook and Instagram.