The Friday Musicales is First Unitarian Society of Madison’s distinguished artist recital series. Since 1971, FUS has offered this free noon-hour recital series as a gift to the community. The music performed is mostly classical, but folk, jazz, and musical theatre styles are presented on occasion. Come hear some of the finest musicians in the Midwest perform in the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Landmark Auditorium.

  • No ticket or reservation is required—it’s free and open to the public.
  • Parking is free. Buses are welcome to drop off in our parking lot.
  • Our facilities are handicap accessible.

Cancellations due to inclement weather or illness will be posted on this page and on our social media feeds (Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter).

Current Season

12:15 – 1 pm • FUS Landmark Auditorium
Free and Open to the Public. No Ticket Required.

ANNOUNCING THE 2023-2024 SEASON!

New events will be added as confirmed. Please check back for updates.

2023

October 20

Marc Fink & Friends

Dr. Marc Fink is professor emeritus of the UW Madison Mead-Witter School of Music, oboist in the Wingra Quintet, and principal oboe of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. He is putting together an undecet (chamber ensemble of 11 players) to perform Dvořák’s Serenade and a Mozart Divertimento.

October 27

Chris Eaton, baritone and Michael Keller, piano

Robert Schumann’s song cycle, “Dichterliebe” (A Poet’s Love), a 16-movement cycle on poems by Heinrich Heine

November 3

Maynie Bradley, violin and Sarah Williams, piano

Debussy violin sonata in G Minor and Franck violin sonata

November 10

Soprano & Bass Duets

Rebekah Demaree, soprano; Thomas J. Weis, bass; and Kaju Lee, piano

November 17

Kirstin Roble, mezzo-soprano

NOTE: This recital will be held in the Atrium Auditorium

November 24

No Musicale Today

December 1

Bruce Bengtson, clavichord

Works by J.S. Bach and C.P.E. Bach

*Note: We encourage you to sit especially close to the performer, as clavichords have a very soft volume. 

December 8

Mark Valenti, piano

December 15

Wes Luke, violin

December 22

No Musicale Today

December 29

No Musicale Today

2024
January 5

Generation Baroque

Featuring Kristen Davies, Baroque flute; Benjamin Lenzmeier, Baroque violin; Eric Miller, Viola di gamba; and Sean Kleve, harpsichord

Bach Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord in A Major, Telemann Paris Quartet in B Minor, and CPE Bach Trio Sonata in C Major.

January 12

Daniel Kuzuhara, piano

January 19

Double Double Reeders

Featuring Ruth Dahlke, oboe & English horn; Scott Ellington, oboe & English horn; Rozan Anderson, bassoon; and Willy Walter, bassoon

January 26

Danielle Breisach, flute

February 2

Trevor Stephenson, harpsichord

Music by Bach, Handel, and Scarlatti on FUS’s world-class Rosa double-manual harpsichord

February 9

Odette Anderson, organ

NOTE: This recital will be held in the Atrium Auditorium

February 16

Namji Kim & Lori Cruciani, piano duo

Bizet’s Jeux d’enfants, Poulenc’s Sonata, Fauré’s Dolly Suite, and Debussy’s Petite Suite

February 23

Daffyd Bevil, horn

The acting principal horn for the Madison Symphony Orchestra returns to the Friday Musicale series 

March 1

Shannon Farley

March 8

Featuring Madison’s Bach Around the Clock festival’s special guest artist

March 16

Jess Salek, piano

March 22

Sean Kleve, harpsichord

E Minor English Suite of J.S. Bach

March 29

Yi-Lan Niu, soprano and Christopher C. Cramer, classical guitar

April 5

Quanda Johnson, soprano, and Will Preston, piano

April 12

Opera on Tap

Favorite arias and art songs

April 19

Mark Valenti, piano

April 26

Four Seasons Theatre

We end our season as we always do: with singers from Four Seasons Theatre! This year’s program will include Broadway favorites by Irving Berlin.

Past Seasons

A full listing of the musicians and music performed during previous seasons can be found by clicking on the links below.

2020-2021 Season

2019-2020 Season

2018-2019 Season

A playlist of video-only Musicales recorded during the Covid-19 Pandemic can be viewed by clicking here.