Press Release | Headed Home

Headed Home: Concerts on the Square returns to Capitol Square this summer

Free performances scheduled to run from late June to early August

MADISON – Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra’s famous Concerts on the Square is headed back to the square this summer, returning with a six concert series, no restrictions and all the fun the community has come to expect when the weather turns warm.

Concerts on the Square faced a two-year hiatus on the square because of COVID-19 restrictions, but as life returns to normal, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) leadership felt confident in bringing the music back to the square.

“We needed to get back to the square. That’s home. But it’s about so much more than the music. It’s about bringing our community together for a free event they can count on throughout the summer,” said Joe Loehnis, WCO’s CEO. “Our musicians can’t wait to play again for the tens of thousands of people who come out each week, and we promise to deliver performances no one will forget.”

The first concert is scheduled for June 29. This marks the return of the WCO’s 38-year tradition, kicking off Concerts on the Square on the last Wednesday of June. The remaining five shows will run throughout July, with the final performance scheduled for August 3.

• June 29 – Motown with Spectrum

• July 6 – Summer Celebration

• July 13 – Reflections on Liberty

• July 20 – The Planets & Ho-Chunk

• July 27 – Rachmaninov’s Third

• Aug. 3 – Finale with Foley

Visit https://wcoconcerts.org/cos to learn more about each of the concerts. Each performance begins at 7 p.m. People can begin putting down blankets to reserve spots around the Capitol at 3 p.m. Each concert will be entirely free with no limitations on who or how many people can attend. As it does every year, the WCO will have limited reserved seating and tables.

“In 23 years of planning Concerts on the Square, this is the most exciting series of programs I’ve been lucky enough to put together,” said Andrew Sewell, WCO’s music director. “We’re coming back to Capitol Square with tons of energy, tons of fun and tons of memorable music.”

Each concert will include the full orchestra, made up of world-class musicians from around the U.S. along with special guests. They’ll feature an array of genres and diverse, cross-cultural programming meant to entertain and introduce the community to music they may not otherwise hear.

To keep up-to-date with performance schedules, community members can sign up for email updates on the WCO website or follow the orchestra on Facebook and Instagram. To donate, visit wcoconcerts.org/donate.

About the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra

No other arts organization in Wisconsin performs for more people each year. Today, Maestro Andrew Sewell and the musicians of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) bring world-class music to more than 250,000 music lovers annually. Founded in 1960, the WCO is one of Madison’s gems, a national caliber chamber orchestra behind the now four-decade summer tradition of Concerts on the Square.

The WCO also presents the classical Masterworks Series at the Overture Center, the annual sell-out Messiah and education concerts for families and children. In 2021, the WCO launched its first Composer in Residence program, bringing in acclaimed composer, author, musician and professor Dr. Bill Banfield to write major works while in residence. While headquartered in Madison, the orchestra plays around the state. To learn more about the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra visit wcoconcerts.org.