Formed in 1984, Madison Jazz Society is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of jazz in the greater Madison area. It hosts a number of jazz concerts throughout the year, plus the Capital City Jazz Festival, which it has hosted since the late 1908s. MJS also sponsors Wisconsin Public Radio’s broadcast of Riverwalk – Live from the Landing, which airs on affiliate stations throughout the country.
In addition to its performance activities, Madison Jazz Society gives grants to area schools to boost their jazz education programs through instrument purchase, classroom materials, and guest artists. Memberships in the Madison Jazz Society are very affordable and helps to offset the cost of the performances and the grant activities throughout the year, as well as providing discounted tickets for MJS performances and a bi-monthly newsletter which covers the jazz scene in Madison.
Madison Jazz Society Information
- Public Transportation: Good (easily accessible by buses 11, 12 and 13 at Olin Avenue/John Nolen Drive)
- Handicapped Accessibility: Good
- Performances/Programs: Schedule varies with concerts from January–March and September–November, plus the annual Capital City Jazz Festival in April
- Ticket Prices: $20 for MJS members; $25 for non-members; Children under 18 are admitted free
- Memberships: Memberships are available for $30. Members receive discount tickets to performances and a bi-monthly newsletter featuring coverage of the jazz scene in and around the Madison area as well as a calendar of upcoming jazz concerts and festivals around the country
- Capital City Jazz Festival: This 3-day festival is held in April every year, and presents 15–20 concerts in various venues throughout the Madison Metro area. Tickets are $35 per session ($32 if pre-ordered), $10 for children 12–18, and free for children 11 and under. Full Festival subscriptions are available and start at $135.
