The Magazine for Madison Area Women
The Magazine for Madison Area Women
LunART starts the summer off with a bang as they present their 2025 LunART Festival: “Her Legacy, Our Voice,” taking place from Wednesday, May 28 through Sunday, June 1. As one of the nation’s few organizations solely dedicated to championing women artists, LunART is rewriting the narrative through electrifying chamber music, powerful interdisciplinary programming, transformative educational opportunities, and soul-fulfilling, impactful discussions.
This year’s festival features three unmissable gala concerts at the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra Center, headlined by internationally renowned 2025 Composer-in-Residence Dr. Chen Yi. From Chen’s most iconic works to groundbreaking new compositions, the concerts spotlight a thrilling lineup, including world premieres by the 2025 Call for Scores winners, and the return of mezzo-soprano Adriana Zabala as Susan B. Anthony in a riveting song cycle chronicling the suffragist’s landmark trial.
Also taking the stage: the 2025 Composers Hub Cohort will collaborate with Chen in a week of creative exploration, culminating in a genre-defying showcase that amplifies the bold future of women composers.
The festival kicks off with a powerful, intimate panel featuring Chen, Adriana Zabala, and acclaimed portrait artist Desere Mayo—each pushing boundaries and forging space for women’s voices in unique, compelling ways. Mayo’s breathtaking visual art exhibition, which explores the intersection of creativity and social change, will be on display at all festival events.
With intimate performances that blend winds, strings, voices, and piano—and a focus on connection, legacy, and innovation—the 2025 LunART Festival is more than a concert series. It’s a movement. A gathering. A spotlight on the stories that shape us—and the voices leading us forward.
Don’t miss your chance to witness the future of the arts, live and in full force.
Commissioned Artwork
In addition to her participation in the panel discussion and performances, Desere Mayo has been commissioned by LunART to create a commemorative artwork for the Festival 2025 theme, “Her Legacy, Our Voice.” Varieties of her artwork will be available for purchase at all festival events.
Get Your Tickets Today!
Tickets for the 2025 LunART Festival are now on sale and can be purchased at lunartfestival.org. Don’t wait–tickets purchased ahead of time are $30 instead of $35! Or you can partake in our special Gala Concert Bundle and get $10 off your concert experience. Students can present an ID upon arrival to
secure a $15 ticket.
2025 Festival Schedule:
“Her Legacy, Our Voice” Panel Discussion – FREE Admission
Wednesday, May 28, 7:30 PM
The festival will commence with a powerful panel discussion, bringing together three distinguished artists– Composer-in-Residence Dr. Chen Yi, vocalist Adriana Zabala, and portrait artist Desere Mayo – who are actively strengthening the legacy of women in the arts while forging their own unique creative paths.
Gala Chamber Music Concert: HER LEGACY
Friday, May 30, 7:30 PM
Audiences will experience an electrifying journey featuring the vibrant energy of 2025 Chen Yi’s “Qi,” followed by the 2025 Call for Scores Winner Lingbo Ma’s “Dance Unleashed,” a sonata by Eugenie Rocherolle, and a powerful performance of Steven Mark Kohn’s gripping musical drama, “The Trial of Susan B. Anthony,” brought to life by guest mezzo soprano Adriana Zabala.
Gala Chamber Music Concert: OUR VOICE
Saturday, May 31, 7:30 PM
OUR VOICE promises a whirlwind of bold and breathtaking music by an extraordinary lineup of composers, including the trailblazing Rebecca Clarke, the masterful Louise Farrenc, Composer-in-Residence Chen Yi, Sato Matsui in a highly anticipated world premiere, and a spotlight on rising talents – 2025 Call for Scores winners Stella G. Gitelman Willoughby and Jennifer Margaret Barker.
Composers Hub Spotlight Chamber Music Concert – FREE Admission
Sunday, June 1, 2:30 PM
The festival will conclude with the Composers Hub Spotlight Concert. This grand finale of unites seven composers from across the globe, whose distinct creative voices are shaping the landscape of 21st-century music. LunART’s 2025 Composers Hub Cohort will join forces with Composer-in-Residence Dr. Chen Yi for a week of workshops and collaboration, culminating in this one-of-a-kind sonic palette. A reception will follow the concert!
LunART Festival is supported by the Amphion Foundation, Arts and Literature Laboratory, Bolz Center for Arts Administration, the BRAVA Magazine, Dane Arts, Ian’s Pizza, Madison Arts Commission with additional funds from the Wisconsin Arts Board, Marriott Daughters Foundation, Microtone Media, Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation, Willy Street Co-op, WORT, and WYSO.
LUNART’S MISSION is to support, inspire, promote, and celebrate ALL women in the arts through public performances, exhibitions, workshops, and interdisciplinary collaboration; thus enriching our community and creating a welcoming space for learning and experimentation.