For more than five decades, the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (WYSO) served as a cultural cornerstone for young musicians across the region. Yet despite its growth and impact, the organization never had a true home of its own. For years, rehearsals were held in borrowed classrooms, churches, and even parking lots, creating challenges for both students and staff.

That changed in 2024 with the opening of WYSO’s first permanent facility, a striking, 40,000-square-foot music center located at 1118 East Washington Avenue in Madison. Designed with the needs of young musicians at its heart, the $33 million building now provides rehearsal, teaching, and performance spaces that reflect WYSO’s stature as one of the nation’s premier youth orchestras.

From its sweeping curved roofs inspired by the body of a cello to its acoustically engineered rehearsal halls, the new center embodies the spirit of music in every detail. More importantly, it gives over 500 young musicians ages 5 through 18 a permanent space where they can learn, collaborate, and thrive.

A Home Designed for Music

The WYSO Music Center is much more than a rehearsal space. It is a purpose-built environment that includes three state-of-the-art rehearsal halls, nine practice rooms, eight studios, a chamber recital hall, and dedicated percussion rehearsal rooms. Every space was designed to serve both the technical and creative needs of the students who gather here weekly.

Flexible Acoustics with Wenger Transform® Acoustical Banners

One of the building’s most innovative features is its ability to adapt acoustically to different rehearsal and performance needs. This flexibility is made possible through the installation of Wenger’s Transform® Motorized Acoustical Banners in both the recital hall and the percussion rehearsal rooms.

These spaces often require dramatically different acoustical conditions depending on the ensemble, repertoire, or teaching purpose. For example, a string quartet performing in the recital hall benefits from a more resonant environment, while a percussion ensemble rehearsal demands greater sound absorption to control reverberation and maintain clarity. With Transform banners, both scenarios, and countless others, are possible within seconds.

The banners deploy quietly and quickly, adjusting levels of sound absorption and reflection as needed. Integration with Wenger | J.R. Clancy’s Vantis™ control system ensures seamless operation and easy adaptability for instructors, students, and guest artists alike.

The result is a recital and rehearsal environment that not only accommodates WYSO’s diverse programming but also elevates the educational experience by teaching students how different acoustical conditions affect musical performance.

Furnishing for Performance and Learning

Beyond acoustics, Wenger also provided essential furnishings that enhance both comfort and professionalism throughout the facility. Musicians rehearse with Preface® music stands, Nota® posture chairs, and Wenger Student Chairs, ensuring ergonomic support for hours of practice.

Conductors lead rehearsals with a Preface® conductor’s stand and a double conductor’s podium. Together, these products create a cohesive, high-quality rehearsal environment that supports musicians at every level.

Impact on Students and Community

Beyond its architectural beauty and technical innovation, the new WYSO Music Center is ultimately about impact. Each year, hundreds of students audition for the chance to join one of WYSO’s ensembles, which range from full symphony orchestras to chamber groups and the Music Makers program, which provides tuition-free music education to underserved youth.

The new building amplifies that mission by providing facilities that match the caliber of instruction and the talent of its students. Already, the center is drawing praise not only from WYSO families but also from community leaders who see it as a beacon for the arts in Madison. The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra will also make use of the halls, further cementing the building’s role as a cultural hub.