May: Biennial Music Festival - Milwaukee Public Schools

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Biennial Music Festival, Festival Bienial de Musica

At the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Biennial Music Festival, 3,500 students from 75 schools perform over the course of two nights. Attendees enjoy bands, orchestras, choirs, modern bands, drumlines, harps, world drums, trumpet fanfare, and more—all free and open to the public.

Biennial Schedule

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Lobby

MPS Pianists and Guitarists

Opening

Trumpet Fanfare
All-City Drumline
World Drumming

Welcome

Combined Band, Orchestra, and Choir – The Star Spangled Banner
- Conducted by Thomas Gamboa, Band Director, UW-Milwaukee
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Opening Remarks

Program

Overture Orchestra
Festival Band – On Wisconsin!
- Conducted by Superintendent Cassellius
Overture Choir - Wednesday Schools
Festival Band
Honors Choir
Overture Choir
Honors Orchestra
Combined Band, Orchestra, and Choir – Greatness

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Lobby

MPS Harpists

Opening

Trumpet Fanfare
All-City Drumline
World Drumming

Welcome

Combined Band, Orchestra, and Choir – The Star Spangled Banner
- Conducted by Thomas Gamboa, Band Director, UW-Milwaukee
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Opening Remarks

Program

Overture Band
Honors Band – On Wisconsin!
- Conducted by Guest MPS Alumni
Overture Choir – Thursday Schools
Festival Orchestra
Honors Band
Overture Choir
Festival Choir
MPS Modern Band
Combined Band, Orchestra, and Choir – Greatness

Composer and Pianist

Leotha Stanley

Leotha Stanley is a professional musician, composer and author of 2 children's music books. He is the Publisher of Umoja Magazine and the Music Director at Mt. Zion Church in Madison, Wisconsin. His original composition, Greatness, will be performed as the finale each day of the 2026 Biennial. Mr. Stanley graduated from Marshall High School in 1974 where he ran track.

Stanley Leotha