The UW-Madison Educational & Performance Outreach program (EPO) is devoted to bringing the University and community together through collaborative musical events that further the outreach mission of UW-Madison and the Wisconsin Idea. By leveraging exciting performance opportunities for music students with an engaged and enthusiastic audience of community members, EPO fosters a greater appreciation for art as a valuable component of life for any community. Conceived in 2004 as Piano Outreach, the program is now in its sixth year. It has expanded to offer diverse musical programs to an ever-broadening audience. Concerts include a combination of solo piano music, art song, instrumental duos, and chamber music in a series of programs for underserved and appreciative community members, many of whom may not normally have easy access to classical music. Unlike typical performance opportunities, this design allows music students to interact with and educate the audience; performers introduce the music, and often work in collaboration with students from the fields of Composition, Music Theory, Music History, Ethnomusicology, and other disciplines in the arts, humanities, and sciences to illuminate their performances.

The 2011 spring semester will feature performances in partnership with the William S. Middleton Veterans Hospital, Orchard Ridge Nursery School, UW Space Place, Oakhill Correctional Institution, Middleton Glen Retirement Community, Oak Park Place, The Polish Heritage Club of Wisconsin-Madison, and Grace Church. The UW Educational & Performance Outreach program is administered by Prof. Martha Fischer, and coordinated by Julie Page (DMA candidate, collaborative piano), and is made possible through a generous grant from the Evjue Foundation, with support from the School of Music and other campus and community partners.

March
Friday, 3/25, 12:00pm: VA Hospital

April
Monday, 4/11, 10:00am & 2:00pm: Orchard Ridge Nursery School (instrument demonstrations)

Friday, 4/15, 10:00am & 2:00pm: Orchard Ridge Nursery School (instrument demonstrations)

Friday, 4/15, 8:00pm: UW Space Place ("Sound Effects on the Piano: An Intro to the Prepared Piano")

Wednesday, 4/20, 1:00pm: Oakhill Correctional Institution

Friday, 4/22, 12:00pm: VA Hospital

Wednesday, 4/27, 10:30am: Middleton Glen Retirement Community

May
Sunday, 5/1, 3:30pm: Oak Park Place Retirement Community (with Madison Polish Heritage Club)

Monday, 5/2, 7:30pm: Grace Church (performance during the shelter meal)