Our Mission:

CIVIC MUSIC MKE supports music education and provides performance opportunities for young musicians in the five county greater Milwaukee area.

 

               Our Vision:

CIVIC MUSIC MKE will be known as a catalyst to ensure every student in the greater Milwaukee area has access and opportunity to participate in music.

 

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One of Milwaukee’s oldest arts organizations, CIVIC MUSIC MKE (CM MKE) has been active in developing the musical life of our community since 1918. Guided by our mission to support music education and provide performance opportunities to young musicians in the Greater Milwaukee area, programs serve young musicians in grades 4-12, their educators who share their love of music, and events serve families with children ages 3-teen and adults throughout the area.

 

CIVIC MUSIC’s programming and mission have evolved as Milwaukee has evolved. Originally conceived as an association of music teachers, it was formed with a single purpose and charge - - “to promote music in the community.” Early on, it was a sounding board, an advocate and a catalyst for music and music education in Milwaukee. Though vibrant today, this was a Milwaukee without a symphony, opera company, theater; mostly ethnic music, home grown recitals and visiting ensembles. There was much to organize and implement, and the Civic Music Association (still our legal name) was very involved. Initially there was an Artist & Ensemble Recital Series, the Young People’s Orchestra (1927), and the Young People’s Band (1940), eventually the Civic Orchestra and Civic Band. Over the years, area professional and avocational ensembles have flourished, and both became independently governed entities.

 

By the 1980s, the focus has been serving young musicians and educators who inspire and share their love of music. Our mission is to support music education and provide performance opportunities for students in the five county greater Milwaukee area (Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha, and Racine counties). Our programming includes two youth music programs, the PRIVATE LESSON PROGRAM- Life Lessons through Music, and the HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION and SHOWCASE RECITAL; two events, KIDS MUSICFEST, an annual one-day event designed with activities to ignite curiosity in “kids” ages 3-teen, and LIVE AT THE IVY, a casual performance event meant to eliminate barriers to enjoying quality performances; and three recognition programs, the EDUCATOR AWARDS, honoring inspiring music educators, the CITIZEN AWARDS, recognizing outstanding community members affecting our community’s musical landscape, and the HIGH SCHOOL AWARDS, honoring outstanding student musicians. Committed to providing access to live music performances for everyone in our community, all CIVIC MUSIC performances are held in physically accessible venues and admission free.

 

In the 2025-26 season, we have directly served 872 young musicians and 1,114 musicians, music educators, and parents through performance, education, scholarships, award programs, and events. We are committed to ensuring that live music performances are available to everyone in our community and making all performances free and open to the public in fully accessible facilities.