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34º | Snow | 90% chance of snow | Sunrise 7:21 a.m. | Sunset 4:57 p.m.
 

🎶 New music for Madisonian ears

The Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra building is ready for its premiere
Architectural rendering of the new Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra building. Visitors mill near the entryway at twilight.jpg
The new $33 million WYSO building is set to have it’s grand opening this spring. | Photo via Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra
There are children doing tai chi before sunrise at the new Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra (WYSO) building. The 14 kids are getting in the zone before picking up their mallets and drumsticks for percussion ensemble practice.

Elsewhere, eight youngsters want to play harp. A standard-sized harp is about as tall as they are. They’re passionate about harp music, though, so they’ll practice on miniature harps, all of them fun colored in pinks and blues.

Down the hall in a piano lab —the only one of its kind in Madison — students play along with the instructor, pouring out who they are in sharps and flats, etudes and concertos.

These children, of around 500, are all excited about being in the long-awaited new music center on the 1100 block of East Washington Avenue. The $33 million building will have its official ribbon cutting in April, but music is already being heard inside.

Interior shot of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra building

The new WYSO music building has three floors of performance, rehearsal, and practice space. | Photo by 608today

🎼 An architectural composition

40,085. That’s the square footage of the new space, designed to look like a cello leaning on its side. It has large rehearsal halls, capable of holding 100-piece orchestras with balconies for birds-eye observation. It has studio spaces for all manner of instrumentalists. It has practice rooms for tuba players, bassoonists, violinists, and flautists.

The interior of a rehearsal hall in the new Wisconsin Youth Sympgony Building. It has large curved windows and light wood throughout.JPG

WYSO’s new rehearsal halls can hold 100-piece orchestras. | Photo by 608today

There’s more to the building, much more. There’s a library and instrument repair shop, meeting spaces and reception areas, an outdoor patio, and a grand entryway with art by Andrée Valley, whose work has been in the Venice Architecture Biennale.

As Bridget Fraser, WYSO’s executive director, says, “We are creating a permanent home for generations of young musicians and a spectacular facility that can be used for the entire community.”
Take note, there's more
Events
Tuesday, Jan. 23
Wednesday, Jan. 24
  • Levi Hummon | Wednesday, Jan. 24 | 8 p.m. | High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave., Madison | $15-$20 | The Nashville native has written songs for Steven Tyler, Tim McGraw, and more.
Thursday, Jan. 25
  • The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk | Thursday, Jan. 25-Sunday, Feb. 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Overture Center for the Arts, 201 State St., Madison | $34-$58 | Celebrating the life and work of artist Marc Chagall and his writer wife, Bella.
  • Insidious: Genesis | Thursday, Jan. 25 | 9 p.m. | Crucible, 3116 Commercial Ave., Madison | $5 | Get your freak on.
Friday, Jan. 26
  • Blue Note Records 85th Anniversary Tour | Friday, Jan. 26 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St., Madison | $8-$66 | Some of jazz’s best performing here in Madison.
  • Road Trip | Friday, Jan. 26 | 8 p.m. | Mary Dupont Wahlers Theatre, 1480 Martin St., Madison | $5-$20 | Four short plays, one great night.
Saturday, Jan. 27
  • Free Kids Ice Fishing Day | Saturday, Jan. 27 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Brittingham Park, 829 W. Washington Ave., Madison | Free | Bring you kids out on the ice for fishing and fun.
  • Build & Remodel Expo | Saturday, Jan. 27 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Madison Marriott Convention Center, 1313 John Q. Hammons Dr., Middleton | $5 | Ready to make your home plans a reality?
Sunday, Jan. 28
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Weather
  • Things are finally heating up in Madison with temperatures now hovering around freezing. That means, however, the recently frozen lakes might un-freeze. It also means to be extra cautious out on the ice. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Community
  • The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce plans to advocate for housing and child care over the next few years. This, coming from its new 2023-25 advocacy agenda for the chamber, which has about 1,200 members. The new agenda’s theme is “belonging.” (Wisconsin State Journal)
Civic
  • A deal is taking shape between the city, Eminent Development Corp., and Lutheran Social Services that would place a $17.2 million, five-story housing project with 44 units on Park Street. Eleven of those units would be for youth aging out of the foster care system and at risk of homelessness. (In Business)
Edu
  • UW-Madison’s Chabad House will be expanding again. Its first expansion opened in 2018. The newly proposed five-story expansion is due, in part, to an increasing number of Jewish UW-Madison students seeking services at Chabad, especially during weekly Shabbat meals, the High Holidays, and Passover. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Health
  • UW Health has expanded capacity at the John Wall Drive Thru Clinic amid a seasonal rise and a high volume of respiratory illnesses. Located at 3819 John Wall Dr., patients will have access to carside care, including many routine vaccinations for ages five and up. (WisBusiness)
Development
  • Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corp. will have a groundbreaking for Rise Madison affordable apartments this Thursday, Jan. 25, at 10 a.m. It will take place at 3401 E. Washington Ave. with Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway in attendance. (In Business)
Talk
  • The Urban League of Greater Madison wants you to budget some time for a talk. The organization is offering a free virtual webinar, “Budgeting for the New Year,” tonight from 6 to 7:30 p.m. It will provide insights into creating a budget aligned with your personal goals. Registration is open.
List
  • The Barbenheimer phenomenon wasn’t just at the movie theaters this last year. Both “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” made waves at the Madison Public Library, too. The DVDs were two of the ten most checked-out items at the library in 2023. Overall, 2.3 million items were checked out.
Health
 
Arts

📸 Picture perfect

See the winner of our 2023 Picture of the Year contest
A view of the sunset and capital building from Blue Mound
Blue Mound capital view | Photo submitted by Steve S.
You all submitted 110 photos for our 2023 Picture of the Year contest and — we must admit — narrowing it down to just 10 finalists was tough.

Check out all of the finalists, and vote for your favorite.
  • “Blue Mound capital view”, Steve S.
  • “Jupiter over the Washburn Observatory”, Jeff W.
  • “Moon over Madison”, Melissa P.
  • “Frozen Assets Festival”, Scott W.
  • “Geese Family scores front row seats”, Beth P.
  • “Lake Mendota Summer Solace”, Sarah A.
  • “Merrill Springs Cistern”, Martha S.
  • “Kayaking Bliss”, Debbie K.
  • “Moon encircled by tree at Zoo Lights”, Sylvia R.
  • “Reflection”, Cathy B.
Voting closes Sunday, Jan. 28 — so be sure to vote for the photo you think should be crowned the winner of the inaugural 608today Picture of the Year contest.

Vote here.
See all of the finalists
Asked

Who are you voting for?

A. “Blue Mound capital view”, Steve S.
B. “Jupiter over the Washburn Observatory”, Jeff W.
C. “Moon over Madison”, Melissa P.
D. “Frozen Assets Festival”, Scott W.
E. “Geese family scores front row seats”, Beth P.
F. “Lake Mendota Summer Solace”, Sarah A.
G. “Merrill Springs cistern”, Martha S.
H. “Kayaking Bliss”, Debbie K.
I. “Moon encircled by tree at Zoo Lights”, Sylvia R.
J. “Reflection”, Cathy B.
Vote here
The Buy

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The Wrap
 
Jonathan Shipley 2.jpg

Today’s edition by:
Jonathan
From the editor
I started playing trombone in 5th grade. I wanted to play the trumpet but my band teacher said my mouth was too big. I think it’s because he had enough trumpet players and just needed a trombone player. No matter! It helped shape my life. Maybe I’ll join Dane County New Horizons Music for us adults who played long ago and want to pick it back up again.

Jonathan Shipley Playing the Trombone.jpeg

Band nerds will always be band nerds. | Photo by 608today

|

Jonathan Shipley
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