Arts Events and Information

This fall, all four comprehensive high schools are staging a unique production that showcases the creativity and dedication of its student-performers, directors and crews.

This summer semester, MMSD brought the arts to students with the help of MMSD teachers and 8 Madison arts organizations, fostering physical and creative exercise.

Memorial received the Outstanding Musical Award for the second year in a row with "Something Rotten!" and La Follette's production of "Chicago: Teen Edition" earned students Spirit Awards.

Walk into the art room at Crestwood Elementary in the fall, and you're likely to find students deep in the creative process—sketching, carving, storyboarding and animating their own original movie.

Read about the impact this MMSD educator is having on the arts community across multiple sites and grade levels.

The school's eighth-graders singers filled the Rotunda with music, as part of the Wisconsin Music Educators Association's Capitol Concerts series.

At West High School, the choir program is a space where students of all backgrounds and abilities come together to create music, build friendships, and support one another. 

A Spanish Language Arts class assignment encouraged students to “interview” famous artists using AI, recreate their works, and showcasing their paintings at a local business.

For Kenny Ellis, music has always been more than just notes on a page—it’s been a lifelong passion that has shaped his journey as both a musician and an educator. 

Community members are invited to the public opening celebration on Sunday, Feb. 16 at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.

Madison Metropolitan School District’s (MMSD) four comprehensive high schools are preparing to launch their highly anticipated spring musicals.

Schools across MMSD are preparing to welcome audiences to a variety of free musical performances in the run-up to winter break, which spans Dec. 23 through Jan. 3.

The "Eastside Players” took home several awards at the 2024 Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech and Dramatic Arts Festival. The team’s production of the one-act Country Gothic received the festival’s top prize, the Critic’s Choice Award. 

Teacher Amy Wilson brings literacy into the art room by pairing picture books with each project, helping students connect art concepts with social-emotional lessons like perseverance while exploring diverse artistic traditions.

Carmelo Saez III has been named an Outstanding Educator by Wisconsin Education Association (WEA) Member Benefits in partnership with UW-Madison Athletics. We can’t wait to “jump around” in celebration on Oct. 5, where he’ll be recognized at the Badger football game.

Art teacher Sonia Valle’s collection of watercolor paintings, “Memories of a Jamaican Childhood,” are on display in public buildings around Madison through May 30, 2025.

The Music Production class at Vel Phillips Memorial offers students the equipment, knowledge and guidance they need to make professional music.

East High has founded a new Mariachi Band for students, offering a new opportunity to learn and celebrate rich cultural traditions through music.

La Follette's Band took on a new challenge for Homecoming: marching at halftime. It's the first formation since 2019, and students were excited to get on the field.

At Southside Elementary School, music teacher Johan Galindo brings more than just melody into the classroom. He shares the heart and soul of Colombian culture. Before moving to Madison three years ago, Galindo taught percussion for the Philharmonic in Bogotá. 

As we celebrate "Music in Our Schools Month," we are focusing on how Referendum 2020 has contributed to enhancing music education in our community. 

Margaret Jenks has performed at Carnegie Hall, conducts for the Madison Youths Symphony and coaches music teachers across the country. She recently earned a residency with opera soprano Kiena Williams to create an impactful experience for Hamilton middle schoolers.

When most people think of summer school, they think of more math and reading. This year MMSD added a variety of arts, from drumming to singing, dance to artmaking, and poetry.