The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) announced on Sunday that its 2024 Concerts on the Square series will kick off June 26 this year and run through July 31, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Tens of thousands of people attend the free concerts on the Capitol grounds every summer, which begin each Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Attendees will also be able to reserve a seat at a table for a catered dinner near the orchestra. Proceeds are put toward production costs or a monthly donation to join the philanthropic Friends of WCO membership program.
The opening performance on June 26 — “Tiempo Libre 2.0” — will feature the Cuban ensemble scheduled to open the 2023 season before the concert was canceled due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires and associated health hazards.
The July 3 performance — “Fanfare on the Square” — will celebrate Independence Day with “Stars and Stripes Forever,” the Armed Forces Salute, and works by composers Patrice Rushen and Michael Abels.
The July 10 “In Nature’s Realm” performance will include music by Glazunov and Grief, Native American activist and flutist Bill Miller, and 17-year-old violinist Jane Story, who won WCO’s Young Artist Concerto Competition.
July 17’s “Trumpet Squared” show will highlight WCO principal trumpet Matthew Onstad along with internationally-recognized trumpeter Andrew Balio.
The “On the Town” concert on July 24 will feature WCO Concertmaster Suzanne Beia performing Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 as well as a Kanopy Dance Company performance.
The season will culminate on July 31 with a show marking the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” to be performed by WCO and pianist John Novacek. More information on the upcoming concerts is available here.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story with July 25 as the scheduled date for the “On the Town” concert has been corrected. The concert’s correct date is July 24.
