Madison High School will be filled with music the evening of Saturday, April 25, 2026 as students share their musical talents with audiences during the 36th annual Dessert & Jazz fundraiser for Madison Music & Arts. About 140 high school and junior school students will sing and play jazz songs for an estimated crowd of more than 200.
The evening will begin with a Madison High School student cabaret in the auxiliary gym-turned-jazz-club, decorated with black curtains and string lights. Students selected and rehearsed songs (and some even arranged their own music), then auditioned this past week. The ten cabaret acts will include vocal performances of “Fly Me to the Moon” and “New York State of Mind,” and group instrumental performances of “Blue Bossa” and “Javanaise,” a flute and jazz piano trio.
A dessert selection from local bakers, including sample plates and gluten-free options, will be served during intermission, and an exhibit featuring work by talented MHS art students will be in the lobby.
Then attendees will move to the auditorium to be treated to the sounds of Mad Jazz (MHS jazz chorus), MHS Jazzy Chamber Strings, Madison Avenue (MHS jazz band), and the MJS JazzEnsemble.
“It’s such a beautiful night that showcases the musical talents of the Madison students,” says Laura Axler, President of Madison Music & Arts, “plus it is a great way to raise funds and awareness for our district’s music, art, and theatre programs.”
All profits from the evening go right back to supporting the arts programs in all five schools in the Madison Public School district. With these funds, Madison Music & Arts provides teacher-initiated grants for music, art, and theatre programs, including co-sponsoring an art-related assembly at Madison Junior School, a workshop with a Broadway actor for the Madison High School musical cast, and new ukuleles for the elementary music program.
Madison Music & Arts is a parent-volunteer run organization which advocates for and fundraises to support all visual and performing arts programs throughout all grades K-12 in the Madison Public Schools. Visit dj-reservations.madisonmusicarts.org for more information or to make your Dessert & Jazz reservation.