Appleton, WI

Appleton's musical life is closely connected with Lawrence University and the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. Chartered in 1847, Lawrence began teaching in 1849. Its Conservatory of Music was first established in 1874 and re-established in 1894, developing into a distinct part of the institution. The university also has historical links with the region's paper industry: it established an Institute of Paper Chemistry in 1929 with industry support.

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center opened in downtown Appleton on 25 November 2002. Its main auditorium, Thrivent Hall, accommodates just over two thousand spectators, while the smaller Kimberly-Clark Theater provides a flexible setting for more intimate events. Together, the university and the performing arts centre give the city complementary spaces for musical study, local performance and touring productions.