MSO 2. NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2024

NOVEMBER — DECEMBER 2024

ENCORE

Volume 43 No. 2

15 November 2 & 3 — Film

Coco in Concert

19 November 8 - 10 — Pops

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony

25 November 15 & 16 — Classics

Reinhardt Conducts Beethoven

34 November 22 - 24 — Classics

Bach’s Christmas Oratorio

43 November 29 - December 1 — Film

The Muppet Christmas Carol

45 December 5 — BSC Presents Canadian Brass

49 December 7 — BSC Presents Adrian Dunn’s Wonderful: A Soulful Celebration

5 Orchestra Roster

7 Music Director

8 Music Director Laureate

9 Principal Pops Conductor

10 Assistant Conductor

11 Milwaukee Symphony Chorus

54 MSO Endowment

Musical Legacy Society

55 Annual Fund

57 Gala Sponsors

58 Gala Paddle Raisers/ Corporate & Foundation

59 Matching Gifts/Golden Note Partners/ Marquee Circle/Tributes

62 MSO Board of Directors

63 MSO Administration

This program is produced and published by ENCORE PLAYBILLS. To advertise in any of the following programs:

• Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

• Florentine Opera

• Milwaukee Ballet

• Marcus Performing Arts Center Broadway Series

• Skylight Music Theatre

• Milwaukee Repertory Theater

• Sharon Lynne Wilson Center

Please contact: Scott Howland at 414-469-7779 scott.encore@att.net

MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 212 West Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203 414-291-6010 | mso.org

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The MSO and the Bradley Symphony Center have partnered with KultureCity to improve our ability to assist and accommodate guests with sensory needs. For information on available resources, visit mso.org.

MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, led by Music Director Ken-David Masur, is among the finest orchestras in the nation and the largest cultural institution in Wisconsin. Since its inception in 1959, the MSO has found innovative ways to give music a home in the region, develop music appreciation and talent among area youth, and raise the national reputation of Milwaukee.

The MSO’s full-time professional musicians perform over 135 classics, pops, family, education, and community concerts each season in venues throughout the state. A pioneer among American orchestras, the MSO has performed world and American premieres of works by John Adams, Roberto Sierra, Philip Glass, Geoffrey Gordon, Marc Neikrug, Camille Pépin, Matthias Pintscher, and Dobrinka Tabakova, as well as garnered national recognition as the first American orchestra to offer live recordings on iTunes.

In January of 2021, the MSO completed a years-long project to restore and renovate a former movie palace in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. The Bradley Symphony Center officially opened to audiences in October 2021. This project has sparked a renewal on West Wisconsin Avenue and continues to be a catalyst in the community.

The MSO’s standard of excellence extends beyond the concert hall and into the community, reaching more than 30,000 children and their families through its Arts in Community Education (ACE) program, Youth and Teen concerts, Family Series, and Meet the Music pre-concert talks. Celebrating its 35th year, the nationally recognized ACE program integrates arts education across all subjects and disciplines, providing opportunities for students when budget cuts may eliminate arts programming. The program provides lesson plans and supporting materials, classroom visits from MSO musician ensembles and artists from local organizations, and an MSO concert tailored to each grade level. This season, more than 5,900 students and 500 teachers and faculty are expected to participate in ACE both in person and in a virtual format.

Photo by Jonathan Kirn

2024.25 SEASON

KEN-DAVID MASUR

Music Director

Polly and Bill Van Dyke

Music Director Chair

EDO DE WAART

Music Director Laureate

BYRON STRIPLING

Principal Pops Conductor

Stein Family Foundation Principal Pops

Conductor Chair

RYAN TANI

Assistant Conductor

CHERYL FRAZES HILL

Chorus Director

Margaret Hawkins Chorus Director Chair

TIMOTHY J. BENSON

Assistant Chorus Director

FIRST VIOLINS

Jinwoo Lee, Concertmaster, Charles and Marie Caestecker Concertmaster Chair

Ilana Setapen, First Associate Concertmaster, Thora M. Vervoren First Associate Concertmaster Chair

Jeanyi Kim, Associate Concertmaster

Alexander Ayers

Autumn Chodorowski

Yuka Kadota

Shin Lan**

Elliot Lee**

Dylana Leung

Kyung Ah Oh

Lijia Phang

Yuanhui Fiona Zheng

SECOND VIOLINS

Jennifer Startt, Principal, Andrea and Woodrow Leung Second Violin Chair

Ji-Yeon Lee, Assistant Principal (2nd chair)

John Bian, Assistant Principal (3rd chair)*

Hyewon Kim, Acting Assistant Principal (3rd chair)

Glenn Asch

Lisa Johnson Fuller

Clay Hancock

Paul Hauer

Gabriela Lara

Janis Sakai**

Mary Terranova

VIOLAS

Robert Levine, Principal, Richard O. and Judith A. Wagner Family Principal Viola Chair

Georgi Dimitrov, Assistant Principal (2nd chair), Friends of Janet F. Ruggeri Viola Chair

Samantha Rodriguez, Assistant Principal (3rd chair)

Elizabeth Breslin

Alejandro Duque

Nathan Hackett

Erin H. Pipal

CELLOS

Susan Babini, Principal, Dorothea C. Mayer Cello Chair

Shinae Ra, Acting Assistant Principal (2nd chair)

Scott Tisdel, Associate Principal Emeritus

Madeleine Kabat

Peter Szczepanek

Peter J. Thomas

Adrien Zitoun

BASSES

Jon McCullough-Benner, Principal, Donald B. Abert Bass Chair*

Andrew Raciti, Acting Principal

Nash Tomey, Acting Assistant Principal (2nd chair)

Brittany Conrad

Omar Haffar**

Paris Myers

HARP

Julia Coronelli, Principal, Walter Schroeder Harp Chair

FLUTES

Sonora Slocum, Principal, Margaret and Roy Butter Flute Chair

Heather Zinninger, Assistant Principal

Jennifer Bouton Schaub

PICCOLO

Jennifer Bouton Schaub

OBOES

Katherine Young Steele, Principal, Milwaukee Symphony League Oboe Chair

Kevin Pearl, Assistant Principal

Margaret Butler

ENGLISH HORN

Margaret Butler, Philip and Beatrice Blank English Horn Chair in memoriam to John Martin

CLARINETS

Todd Levy, Principal, Franklyn Esenberg Clarinet Chair

Jay Shankar, Assistant Principal, Donald and Ruth P. Taylor Assistant Principal Clarinet Chair

Besnik Abrashi

E-FLAT CLARINET

Jay Shankar

BASS CLARINET

Besnik Abrashi

BASSOONS

Catherine Van Handel, Principal, Muriel C. and John D. Silbar Family Bassoon Chair

Rudi Heinrich, Assistant Principal

Beth W. Giacobassi

CONTRABASSOON

Beth W. Giacobassi

HORNS

Matthew Annin, Principal, Krause Family French Horn Chair

Krystof Pipal, Associate Principal

Dietrich Hemann, Andy Nunemaker French Horn Chair

Darcy Hamlin

Scott Sanders

TRUMPETS

Matthew Ernst, Principal, Walter L. Robb Family Trumpet Chair

David Cohen, Associate Principal, Martin J. Krebs Associate Principal Trumpet Chair

Tim McCarthy, Fred Fuller Trumpet Chair

TROMBONES

Megumi Kanda, Principal, Marjorie Tiefenthaler Trombone Chair

Kirk Ferguson, Assistant Principal

BASS TROMBONE

John Thevenet, Richard M. Kimball Bass Trombone Chair

TUBA

Robyn Black, Principal, John and Judith Simonitsch Tuba Chair

TIMPANI

Dean Borghesani, Principal

Chris Riggs, Assistant Principal

PERCUSSION

Robert Klieger, Principal

Chris Riggs

PIANO

Melitta S. Pick Endowed Piano Chair

PERSONNEL

Antonio Padilla Denis, Director of Orchestra Personnel

Paris Myers, Hiring Coordinator

LIBRARIANS

Paul Beck, Principal Librarian, James E. Van Ess Principal Librarian Chair

Matthew Geise, Assistant Librarian & Media Archivist

PRODUCTION

Tristan Wallace, Production Manager/ Live Audio

Lisa Sottile, Production Stage Manager

* Leave of Absence 2024.25 Season

** Acting member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra 2024.25 Season

PIANIST CLARE LONGENDYKE

November 9, 2024 • 2:30 p.m.

MERRY AND BRIGHT Songs of Christmas Cheer with Ryan & Ryan

December 13, 2024 • 7:30 p.m.

BILLY McGUIGAN’S POP ROCK ORCHESTRA

February 2, 2025 • 2:30 p.m.

BACHELORS OF BROADWAY

February 21, 2025 • 7:30 p.m.

ALIVE AGAIN A Tribute to Chicago April 12, 2025 • 2:30 p.m.

KEN-DAVID MASUR, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Hailed as “fearless, bold, and a life-force” (San Diego Union-Tribune) and “a brilliant and commanding conductor with unmistakable charisma” (Leipzig Volkszeitung), Ken-David Masur is celebrating his sixth season as music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and principal conductor of the Chicago Symphony’s Civic Orchestra.

Masur’s tenure in Milwaukee has been notable for innovative thematic programming, including a festival celebrating the music of the 1930s, when the Bradley Symphony Center was built; the Water Festival, which highlighted local community partners whose work centers on water conservation and education; and last season’s city-wide Bach Festival, celebrating the abiding appeal of J.S. Bach’s music in an ever-changing world. He has also instituted a multi-season artistic partnership program, and he has led highlyacclaimed performances of major choral works, including a semistaged production of Peer Gynt. This season, which celebrates the eternal interplay between words and music, he continues an artistic partnership with bass-baritone Dashon Burton and conducts Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. In Chicago, Masur leads the Civic Orchestra, the premiere training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony, in a variety of programs, including an annual Bach Marathon.

In the summer of 2024, Masur made his debut at the Oregon Bach Festival and returned to the Tanglewood Festival, where he conducted the Boston Symphony, both in a John Williams film night and in a program honoring the BSO’s longtime music director Seiji Ozawa. This season also features return appearances with the Louisville Orchestra, the Colorado Symphony, and the Omaha Symphony, and in September, Masur made his subscription debut with the New York Philharmonic. The following month, he made his subscription debut with the Chicago Symphony in a program featuring soloist Anne-Sophie Mutter.

Masur has conducted distinguished orchestras around the world, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, National, and San Francisco symphonies, l’Orchestre National de France, Minnesota Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Norway’s Kristiansand Symphony, and Tokyo’s Yomiuri Nippon Symphony. He has also made regular appearances at Ravinia, Tanglewood, the Hollywood Bowl, Grant Park, and international festivals including Verbier. Previously, Masur was associate conductor of the Boston Symphony, principal guest conductor of the Munich Symphony, associate conductor of the San Diego Symphony, and resident conductor of the San Antonio Symphony.

Music education and working with the next generation of young artists are of major importance to Masur. In addition to his work with Civic Orchestra of Chicago, he has conducted orchestras and led masterclasses at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts, New England Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, Boston University, Boston Conservatory, Tokyo’s Bunka Kaikan Chamber Orchestra, the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, and The Juilliard School, where he led the Juilliard Orchestra last season.

Masur is passionate about contemporary music and has conducted and commissioned dozens of new works, many of which have premiered at the Chelsea Music Festival, an annual summer festival in New York City founded and directed by Masur and his wife, pianist Melinda Lee Masur. The festival, which celebrated its 15th Anniversary in 2024, has been praised by The New York Times as a “gem of a series” and by Time Out New York as an “impressive addition to New York’s cultural ecosystem.”

Masur and his family are proud to call Milwaukee their home and enjoy exploring all the riches of the Third Coast.

Photo by Adam DeTour

EDO DE WAART, MUSIC DIRECTOR LAUREATE

Throughout his long and illustrious career, renowned Dutch conductor Edo de Waart has held a multitude of posts with orchestras around the world, including music directorships with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Antwerp Symphony, New Zealand Symphony, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and a chief conductorship with the De Nederlandse Opera and Santa Fe Opera.

Edo de Waart served as principal guest conductor of the San Diego Symphony, conductor laureate of both the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra and Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, and music director laureate of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

As an opera conductor, de Waart has enjoyed success in a large and varied repertoire in many of the world’s greatest opera houses. He has conducted at Bayreuth, Salzburg Festival, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Opéra Bastille, Santa Fe Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera. With the aim of bringing opera to broader audiences where concert halls prevent full staging, he has, as music director in Milwaukee, Antwerp, and Hong Kong, often conducted semi-staged and opera in concert performances.

A renowned orchestral trainer, he has been involved with projects working with talented young players at the Juilliard and Colburn schools and the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara.

Edo de Waart’s extensive catalogue encompasses releases for Philips, Virgin, EMI, Telarc, and RCA. Recent recordings include Henderickx’s Symphony No. 1 and Oboe Concerto, Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, and Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, all with the Royal Flemish Philharmonic.

Beginning his career as an assistant conductor to Leonard Bernstein at the New York Philharmonic, de Waart then returned to Holland, where he was appointed assistant conductor to Bernard Haitink at the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Edo de Waart has received a number of awards for his musical achievements, including becoming a Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion and an Honorary Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

Photo by Jesse Willems

BYRON STRIPLING, PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR

With a contagious smile and captivating charm, conductor, trumpet virtuoso, singer, and actor Byron Stripling ignites audiences across the globe. In 2024, Stripling was named Stein Family Foundation Principal Pops Conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Stripling is also principal pops conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and he currently serves as artistic director and conductor of the highly acclaimed Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Stripling’s baton has led countless orchestras throughout the United States and Canada, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood and the orchestras of San Diego, St. Louis, Virginia, Toronto, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Fort Worth, Rochester, Buffalo, Florida, Portland, and Sarasota, to name a few.

As a soloist with the Boston Pops, Stripling has performed frequently under the baton of Keith Lockhart, including as the featured soloist on the PBS television special Evening at Pops with conductors John Williams and Mr. Lockhart.

Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, Stripling has become a pops orchestra favorite throughout the country, soloing with over 100 orchestras around the world. He has been a featured soloist at the Hollywood Bowl and performs at festivals around the world.

An accomplished actor and singer, Stripling was chosen, following a worldwide search, to star in the lead role of the Broadway-bound musical Satchmo. Many will remember his featured cameo performance in the television movie The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, and his critically acclaimed virtuoso trumpet and riotous comedic performance in the 42nd Street production of From Second Avenue to Broadway.

Television viewers have enjoyed his work as soloist on the worldwide telecast of The Grammy Awards. Millions have heard his trumpet and voice on television commercials, TV theme songs including 20/20 and CNN and soundtracks of favorite movies. In addition to multiple recordings with his quintet and work with artists from Tony Bennett to Whitney Houston, his prolific recording career includes hundreds of albums with the greatest pop, Broadway, soul, and jazz artists of all time.

Stripling earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster. He has also played and recorded extensively with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, and Buck Clayton in addition to the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and The GRP All Star Big Band.

Stripling is devoted to giving back and supports several philanthropic organizations, including the United Way and The Community Shelter Board. He also enjoys sharing the power of music through seminars and master classes at colleges, universities, conservatories, and high schools.

Stripling was educated at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. One of his greatest joys is to return, periodically, to Eastman and Interlochen as a special guest lecturer.

A resident of Ohio, Stripling lives in the country with his wife Alexis, a former dancer, writer, and poet and their beautiful daughters.

Photo by John Abbott

RYAN TANI, ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR

Ryan Tani is in his second season as assistant conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. In 2021, he completed his two-year tenure as the Orchestral Conducting Fellow for the Yale Philharmonia under Music Director Peter Oundjian, where he was the recipient of the Dean’s Prize for artistic excellence in his graduating class. Committed to meaningful community music-making in the state of Montana, Tani has directed the Bozeman Chamber Orchestra, Bozeman Symphonic Choir, Second String Orchestra, and MSU Symphony Orchestras. He frequently serves as cover conductor for the St. Louis, Colorado, and Bozeman symphonies and recently served on the faculty at the Montana State University School of Music.

Tani recently concluded his tenure as music director of the Occasional Symphony in Baltimore. A fierce advocate of new music, Tani curated over 20 commissions from Baltimore-based composers during his fouryear directorship of OS. As resident conductor of the New Music New Haven series, he has collaborated, under the guidance of Aaron Jay Kernis, with Yale University composition students and faculty.

Tani is also a graduate of the Peabody Institute, where he studied conducting with Marin Alsop and Markand Thakar, and of the University of Southern California, where he studied voice with Gary Glaze. In 2015, he was declared the winner of the ACDA Undergraduate Student Conducting Competition at their national conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to his studies at Yale and Peabody, Tani has also studied conducting with Larry Rachleff, Donald Schleicher, Gerard Schwarz, Grant Cooper, and José-Luis Novo. Tani currently resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he can be found in the park with his dog, playing board games with friends and family, in the library with a good book, or in the practice room with his violin.

MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY CHORUS

The Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, founded in 1976, is known and respected as one of the finest choruses in the country. Under the direction of Dr. Cheryl Frazes Hill, the 2024-25 season with the MSO includes works by Poulenc, Brahms, Wagner, Verdi, and Mozart, as well as Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and the Hometown Holiday Pops performances.

The 150-member chorus has been praised by reviewers for “technical agility,” “remarkable ensemble cohesion,” and “tremendous clarity.” In addition to performances with the MSO, the chorus has appeared on public television and recorded performances for radio stations throughout the country. The chorus has performed a cappella concerts to sold-out audiences and has made guest appearances with other performing arts groups, including Present Music, Milwaukee Ballet, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The chorus has also made appearances at suburban Chicago’s famed Ravinia Festival.

The Margaret Hawkins Chorus Director Chair was funded by a chorus-led campaign during the ensemble’s 30th anniversary season in 2006, in honor of the founding chorus director, Margaret Hawkins.

Comprised of teachers, lawyers, students, doctors, musicians, homemakers, and more, each of its members brings not only musical quality, but a sheer love of music to their task. “We have the best seats in the house,” one member said, a sentiment echoed throughout the membership. Please visit mso.org/chorus for more information on becoming a part of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus.

Photo by Jonathan Kirn

CHORUS MEMBERS & STAFF

Jahnavi Acharya

Anna Aiuppa

Mia Akers

Laura Albright-Wengler

Anthony Andronczyk

James Anello

u Thomas R. Bagwell

Evan Bagwell

Barbara Barth Czarkowski

Marshall Beckman

Yacob Bennett

Emily Bergeron

JoAnn Berk

Edward Blumenthal

Jillian Boes

u Scott Bolens

Neil R. Brooks

Michelle Budny

Ellen N. Burmeister

Gabrielle Campbell

Katie Cantwell

Gerardo Carcar

Elise Cismesia

Ian Clark

Sarah M. Cook

Amanda Coplan

Sarah Culhane

Phoebe Dawsey

Colin Destache

Rebeca Dishaw

Megan Kathleen Dixson

Rachel Dutler

James Edgar

Joe Ehlinger

Katelyn Farebrother

Michael Faust

Catherine Fettig

Marty Foral

STAFF

Robert Friebus

u Karen Frink

Maria Fuller

Jonathan Gaston-Falk

Willie Gesch

Samantha Gibson

Jessica Golinski

Mark R. Hagner

Mary Hamlin

Beth Harenda u Karen Heins

Mary Catherine Helgren

Kurt Hellermann

Martha Hellermann

Melissa Kay Herbst

Eric Hickson

Michelle Hiebert

Laura Hochmuth

Amy Hudson

Matthew Hunt

Stan Husi

u Tina Itson

• Christine Jameson

Paula J. Jeske

John Jorgensen

Caitleen Kahn

• Heidi Kastern

Christin Kieckhafer

Robert Knier

Jill Kortebein

Kaleigh KozakLichtman

Kyle J. Kramer

u Joseph M. Krechel

Julia M. Kreitzer

Savannah Grace

Kroeger

• Harry Krueger

Benjamin Kuhlmann

Cheryl Frazes Hill, chorus director

Timothy J. Benson, assistant director

Terree Shofner-Emrich, primary pianist

Melissa Cardamone, Jeong-In Kim, rehearsal pianists

Darwin J. Sanders, language/diction coach

Christina Williams, chorus manager

Alexandra Lerch-Gaggl

Nicholas Lin

Robert Lochhead

Kristine Lorbeske

Grace Majewski

Douglas R. Marx

Joy Mast

Justin J. Maurer

Betsy McCool

Shannon McMullen

Hilary Merline

Kathleen O. Miller

Megan Miller

Bailey Moorhead

Jennifer Mueller

Lucia Muniagurria

Matthew Neu

Kristin Nikkel

Jason Niles

Alice Nuteson

Robert Paddock

Elizabeth Phillips

R. Scott Pierce

u Jessica E. Pihart

Olivia Pogodzinski

Bianca Pratte

Kaitlin Quigley

Mary E. Rafel

Jason Reuschlein

Rehanna Rexroat

James Reynolds

Marc Charles Ricard

Amanda Robison

Veronica Samiec

u Bridget Sampson

James Sampson

Joshua S. Samson

Darwin J. Sanders

Alana Sawall

John T. Schilling

Sarah Schmeiser

Rand C. Schmidt

Randy Schmidt

u Allison Schnier

Andrew T. Schramm

Matthew Seider

Bennett Shebesta

u Hannah Sheppard

David Siegworth

Bruce Soto

u Joel P. Spiess

u Todd Stacey

u Donald E. Stettler

Scott Stieg

Donna Stresing

Laura Sufferling

Ashley Ellen Suresh

Joseph Thiel

Dean-Yar Tigrani

Clare Urbanski

Matthew Van Hecke

Tess Weinkauf

Emma Mingesz Weiss

Michael Werni

Erin Weyers

Charles T. White

Christina Williams

Emilie Williams

Sally Salkowski Witte

Kevin R. Woller

Rachel Yap

Jamie Mae Yu

Michele Zampino

Katarzyna Zawislak

Stephanie Zimmer

u Section Leader

• Librarian

DR. CHERYL FRAZES HILL, CHORUS DIRECTOR

Dr. Cheryl Frazes Hill is now in her eighth season as director of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus. In addition to her role in Milwaukee, she is the associate conductor of the Chicago Symphony Chorus. Frazes Hill is professor emerita at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts, where she served for 20 years as director of choral activities and head of music education. During the 2024-25 season, Frazes Hill will prepare the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus for classical performances of Poulenc’s Gloria, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Brahms’s German Requiem, and concluding with Great Moments in Grand Opera.

In her role as the Chicago Symphony Chorus associate conductor, she has prepared the chorus for Maestros Alsop, Boulez, Barenboim, Conlon, Levine, Mehta, Salonen, Tilson Thomas, and many others. Recordings of Frazes Hill’s chorus preparations on the Chicago Symphony Orchestra label include Beethoven, A Tribute to Daniel Barenboim, and Chicago Symphony Chorus: A 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Under her direction, the Roosevelt University choruses have been featured in prestigious and diverse events, including appearances at national and regional music conferences and performances with professional orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and the Illinois Philharmonic. The Roosevelt Conservatory Chorus received enthusiastic reviews for their American premiere of Jacob ter Veldhuis’s Mountaintop. Other recent performances have included the internationally acclaimed production of Defiant Requiem and three appearances with The Rolling Stones during a recent United States concert tour.

Frazes Hill received her master’s and doctoral degrees in conducting from Northwestern University and bachelor’s degrees in voice and music education from the University of Illinois. An accomplished vocalist, she is a featured soloist in the Grammy-nominated recording CBS Masterworks release Mozart: Music for Basset Horns. An award-winning conductor and educator, Frazes Hill recently received the ACDA Harold Decker Conducting Award, the Mary Hoffman Music Educators Award, and in past years, the Commendation of Excellence in Teaching from the Golden Apple Foundation, the Illinois Governor’s Award, Roosevelt University’s Presidential Award for Social Justice, the Northwestern University Alumni Merit Award, and the Outstanding Teaching Award from the University of Chicago, among others.

Frazes Hill’s recently released book, Margaret Hillis: Unsung Pioneer, a biography of the famed female conductor, received a commendation from the 2023 Midwest Book Awards. Frazes Hill is nationally published on topics of her research in choral conducting and music education. A frequent guest conductor, clinician, and guest speaker, Frazes Hill regularly collaborates with Maestro Marin Alsop at Ravinia Festival’s Breaking Barriers, providing workshops for Taki Alsop women conducting fellows. Upcoming appearances this season include a presentation at the American Choral Directors National Conference and a three-day residency at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.

COCO IN CONCERT

FILM WITH ORCHESTRA

Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, November 3, 2024 at 2:30 pm

ALLEN-BRADLEY HALL

Ryan Tani, conductor

Directed by LEE UNKRICH

Co-Directed by ADRIAN MOLINA

Produced by DARLA K. ANDERSON, p.g.a.

Executive Producer JOHN LASSETER

Screenplay by ADRIAN MOLINA & MATTHEW ALDRICH

Original Story by LEE UNKRICH JASON KATZ MATTHEW ALDRICH ADRIAN MOLINA

Original Score by MICHAEL GIACCHINO

Original Songs by KRISTEN ANDERSON-LOPEZ & ROBERT LOPEZ and GERMAINE FRANCO & ADRIAN MOLINA

PRESENTATION LICENSED BY

© Disney/Pixar

Presentation licensed by © Disney Concerts. All rights reserved.

Today’s performance lasts approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission. The performance is a presentation of the feature film Coco with a live performance of the film’s entire score. Out of respect for the musicians and your fellow audience members, please remain seated until the conclusion of the end credits.

Cinema projectors generously donated by MARCUS CORPORATION. This weekend’s media sponsor is ONMILWAUKEE.

Independent Living

FEATURING:

. Full-sized pool and whirlpool

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Curated activities including social, recreational, and educational

. Located only 40 minutes north of Milwaukee in beautiful Washington County

Tucked into the heart of the Kettle Moraine surrounded by prairies, hiking trails, forests, and abundant wildlife

. Within minutes of vibrant downtown West Bend featuring an award-winning farmer’s market, ne dining, shopping, cultural events, art museum, and gol ng

1,000 feet of pristine Big Cedar Lake frontage—pontoon boat rides, paddle boat, kayak launch, swimming, and shing

Composer Biographies

MICHAEL GIACCHINO

Composer and director Michael Giacchino has film score credits that feature some of the most popular and acclaimed projects in recent history, including The Incredibles, Coco, Jojo Rabbit, Ratatouille, Star Trek, Jurassic World, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Spider-Man: No Way Home, War for the Planet of the Apes, and The Batman. Giacchino’s 2009 score for the Pixar hit Up earned him an Oscar®, a Golden Globe®, the BAFTA, the Broadcast Film Critics’ Choice Award, and two Grammy® Awards. After almost 20 years of film scoring, Giacchino directed the very first Marvel special presentation, Werewolf By Night, in 2022.

Giacchino studied filmmaking at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. After college, he landed a marketing job at Disney and began studies in music composition, first at Juilliard, and then at UCLA. He moved from marketing to producing in the newly formed Disney Interactive Division, where he had the opportunity to write music for video games. Giacchino’s work in the gaming industry sparked the interest of J.J. Abrams, and thus began a long-standing relationship that would lead to scores for the hit television series Alias and Lost, as well as the feature films

Mission Impossible III, the three Star Trek films, and Super 8

In June 2018, Giacchino premiered his first work for symphony orchestra, Voyage. Commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the piece celebrates the 60th anniversary of the founding of NASA. In July 2019, a third movement, “Advent,” was added for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

Werewolf By Night marked Giacchino’s feature directing debut after having helmed the Star Trek short Ephraim and Dot and his own comedy short, Monster Challenge. In 2019, Giacchino’s first LP of original music, Travelogue Volume 1, featuring his Nouvelle Modernica orchestra, described as a story in song, was released on Mondo Records. His music can be heard in concert halls internationally with all three Star Trek films, Ratatouille, Jurassic World, Up, and Coco regularly performed live-to-picture with a full orchestra.

Giacchino sits on the advisory board of Education Through Music Los Angeles.

Friday, November 8, 2024 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 2:30 pm

ALLEN-BRADLEY HALL

Starring

BUGS BUNNY

Conducted by

GEORGE DAUGHERTY

Created and Produced by GEORGE DAUGHERTY & DAVID KA LIK WONG

Produced by AMY MINTER

JAMES FELLENBAUM, Principal Guest Conductor

Also Starring

ELMER FUDD DAFFY DUCK PORKY PIG WILE E. COYOTE ROAD RUNNER

MICHIGAN J. FROG and GIOVANNI JONES

Music by CARL W. STALLING MILT FRANKLYN CHRISTOPHER LENNERTZ CARL JOHNSON

Based on the Works of Wagner, Rossini, von Suppé, J. Strauss II, Smetana, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Donizetti, and Ponchielli

Animation Direction by CHUCK JONES FRIZ FRELENG ROBERT CLAMPETT ROBERT McKIMSON ABE LEVITOW MATTHEW O’CALLAGHAN

Voice Characterizations by MEL BLANC ARTHUR Q. BRYAN as Elmer Fudd

BOB BERGEN ERIC BAUZA . . . and NICOLAI SHUTOROV as Giovanni Jones and WILLIAM ROBERTS as Michigan J. Frog

Produced in Association with Industrial F/X PRODUCTIONS SAN FRANCISCO & LAS VEGAS

Official Website www.BugsBunnyAtTheSymphony.net

Original Soundtrack Recording on WATERTOWER MUSIC www.watertower-music.com

Follow Bugs Bunny At The Symphony on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Post your own pre-concert and post-concert photos with the hashtag #BugsBunnyAtTheSymphony

ALL ANIMATION available on DVD and Streaming

Digital video projectors generously donated by MARCUS CORPORATION. This weekend’s media sponsor is WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.

The length of this concert is approximately 2 hours.

THE PROGRAM ACT I

OVERTURE TO “IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA” by Gioachino Rossini

THE WARNER BROS. FANFARE

Music by Max Steiner

“MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG”

(“The Merrie Melodies Theme”)

Music by Charles Tobias, Murray Mencher, and Eddie Cantor, Arranged and Orchestrated by Carl W. Stalling

“BATON BUNNY”

Music by Milt Franklyn

Based on the Overture to “Morning, Noon, and Night in Vienna” by Franz von Suppé

Story by Michael Maltese

Animation Direction by CHUCK JONES and ABE LEVITOW

Excerpt from

“WHAT’S UP, DOC?” (Original Soundtrack)

Music by Carl Stalling

“Hooray for Hollywood”

Music by Richard A. Whiting,

Lyrics by Johnny Mercer

Story by Warren Foster

Animation Direction by ROBERT McKIMSON

“A CORNY CONCERTO”

Music by Carl W. Stalling

Based on “Tales of the Vienna Woods” and “The Blue Danube” by Johann Strauss II

Story by Frank Tashlin

Animation Direction by ROBERT CLAMPETT

“LONG-HAIRED HARE”

Music by Carl W. Stalling after Wagner, von Suppé, Donizetti, and Rossini

Story by Michael Maltese

Animation Direction by CHUCK JONES

“WET CEMENT”

(Original Soundtrack)

Music by Carl Johnson

Written by Michael Ruocco, David Gemmill, & Johnny Ryan

Executive Producers: Pete Browngardt and Sam Register

Animation Direction by DAVID GEMMILL

“ZOOM AND BORED”

Music by Carl W. Stalling and Milt Franklyn

Based on “The Dance of the Comedians” from “The Bartered Bride” by Bedřich Smetana

Story by Michael Maltese

Animation Direction by CHUCK JONES

Excerpt from “ONE FROGGY EVENING” (Original Soundtrack)

Music by Milt Franklyn

“Hello My Baby” Music and Lyrics by Ida Emerson and Joseph E. Howard

Animation Direction by CHUCK JONES

“THE RABBIT OF SEVILLE”

Music by Carl W. Stalling

Based on the Overture to “The Barber of Seville” by Gioachino Rossini

Story by Michael Maltese

Animation Direction by CHUCK JONES

INTERMISSION

ACT

II

COYOTE SUITE “RABID RIDER”

Music by Christopher Lennertz

Executive Producer: Sam Register

Story by Tom Sheppard

Animation Direction by MATTHEW O’CALLAGHAN and

“COYOTE FALLS”

Music by Christopher Lennertz

Executive Producer: Sam Register

Story by Tom Sheppard

Animation Direction by MATTHEW O’CALLAGHAN and “FUR OF FLYING”

Music by Christopher Lennertz

Executive Producer: Sam Register

Story by Tom Sheppard

Animation Direction by MATTHEW O’CALLAGHAN

“HIGH NOTE”

Music by Milt Franklyn after Johann Strauss

Based upon “The Blue Danube”

Story by Michael Maltese

Animation Direction by CHUCK JONES

Excerpt from “DUCK AMUCK” (Original Soundtrack)

Sound Effects by Treg Brown

Story by Michael Maltese

Animation Direction by CHUCK JONES

“WHAT’S OPERA, DOC?”

Music by Milt Franklyn

Based on music from “The Flying Dutchman,” “Die Walküre,” “Siegfried,” “Götterdämmerung,” “Rienzi,” and “Tannhäuser” by Richard Wagner

Story by Michael Maltese

Animation Direction by CHUCK JONES

MERRIE MELODIES “THAT’S ALL FOLKS!”

Music Arranged and Orchestrated by Carl W. Stalling

Voice Characterization by Noel Blanc

Printed Encore: “DYNAMITE DANCE”

Music by Carl Johnson

Based on “The Dance of The Hours” from “La Gioconda” by Amilcare Ponchielle

Written by David Gemmill, Pete Browngardt, & Johnny Ryan

Executive Producers: Pete Browngardt and Sam Register

Animation Direction by DAVID GEMMILL

Program Subject To Change Without Notice.

LOONEY TUNES and all related characters and elements © & TM Warner Bros.

Entertainment Inc.WB SHIELD: TM & © WBEI. (s24)

PRODUCTION, CREATIVE, and TOURING STAFF

Creator / Music Director / Conductor / Producer

George Daugherty

Creator / Producer / Technical Director / Tour Director

David Ka Lik Wong

Producer

Amy Minter Conductor

James Fellenbaum

Production Touring Musicians (Rotating)

*Jo Pusateri, Principal Percussion and Slide Guitar

*Kelly Hale, Principal Pianist

*Robert Schietroma, Principal Percussion Emeritus

*on leave of absence

Art Director, CGI Producer, and Graphics/Animation Designer

Melinda Lawton

New Production Logo and Production Design

Warner Bros. Animation

Melinda Lawton

Lisa Erickson

Editors

George Daugherty

David Ka Lik Wong

Scott Draper

Mark Beutel

Peter Koff

Will Cline

Pat McGillen

Special thanks to Keep Me Posted, Burbank

Special Effects and CGI/Animation Editor

Shawn Carlson

Sound Design, Sound Effects, and Re-Mastering

Robb Wenner

John Larabee

Audio Mixer and Tour Sound Supervisor

Marty Bierman

Robb Wenner

New CGI Animation Elements

Lawton Design

New Animation Elements

Warner Bros. Animation

Audio CD Producers

George Daugherty

David Ka Lik Wong

Steve Linder

Sound Effects Editors

Robb Wenner

John Larabee

Music Supervisors

David Ka Lik Wong

Caryn Rasmussen

Click Masters

Mako Sujishi

Robb Wenner

John Larabee

Kristopher Carter

Music Transcription and Restoration

Ron Goldstein

Caryn Rasmussen

Leo Marchildon

Robert Schietroma

Cameron Patrick

Robert Guillory

Charles Fernandez . . . and special thanks to USC/Warner Bros. Music Archives

Music Copyists

Caryn Rasmussen

Robert Schietroma

Michael Hernandez

John Norine

Jeff Turner

Valle Music

Judy Green Music

Webmaster and Website Designer

Lorelei McCollough

Video and Audio Production Coordinated and Executed by

Industrial F/X Productions San Francisco and Las Vegas

IF/X WISHES TO EXTEND ITS SPECIAL THANKS

TO:  Warner Bros.; Warner Bros. Consumer Products; Warner Bros. Animation; WaterTower Music; The Sydney Symphony, The Sydney Opera House, and

The Sydney Opera House Recording Studios and Facilities; The Power Station Recording Studios, New York;  U.S.C. Film School/Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television;  U.S.C. Film/Music Archives;  U.C.L.A. Film Archives;  The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity; Chuck Jones Enterprises; Linda Jones Productions; Post Effects Chicago;  Screen Magazine; and very special personal thanks to Isabelle Zakin, Bruce Triplett, Foote Kirkpatrick, Ruth L. Ratny, Mike Fayette, Rick Gehr, Melinda Lawton, and Charlene Daugherty.

George Daugherty dedicates this concert to the memory of his mother, Charlene Elizabeth Daugherty

BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY 30th

ANNIVERSARY EDITION had its world premiere on September 21, 2019, at the Warner Theatre, Erie Philharmonic; and October 4, 2019, at Benaroya Hall, with Seattle Symphony.

BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY II had its world premiere on July 5, 2013, at the Hollywood Bowl, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY had its world premieres on May 7, 2010, at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony; and July 16, 2010, at the Hollywood Bowl, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

BUGS BUNNY ON BROADWAY had its world premiere on June 16, 1990 at the San Diego Civic Theatre, with the San Diego Symphony; its Broadway premiere at the Gershwin Theatre, New York City, on October 2, 1990; it’s major symphony orchestra premiere on December 26, 1990 with The Pittsburgh Symphony at Heinz Hall; and its international premiere on May 15, 1996 at the Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia.

Official Website www.BugsBunnyAtTheSymphony.net Original Soundtrack Recording on WATERTOWER MUSIC www.watertower-music.com

Follow Bugs Bunny At The Symphony on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Post your own pre-concert and postconcert photos with the hashtag #BugsBunnyAtTheSymphony

ANIMATION available on DVD and Download / Streaming

Biographies

BUGS BUNNY

Bugs Bunny is one of the most recognized cartoon characters in the world, whose signature phrase “What’s Up, Doc?” has long since entered the English language.

Bugs’ first “reel” appearance in front of his soon-to-be-adoring public was in A Wild Hare directed by Tex Avery. Since then, Bugs’ zany antics in hundreds of cartoon favorites have made him a legend throughout the world.

This cool, collected, carrot-chomping rabbit is the unequivocal superstar of the Looney Tunes family. With never a “hare” out of place he always manages to outsmart his adversaries, whoever they may be. He’s a real American icon who has graced the TV and cinema screens the world over.

Bugs Bunny’s cartoons have twice been nominated for Academy Awards, and his Knighty Knight Bugs won a coveted Oscar. Bugs has starred in four films in addition to his hundreds of animated shorts and 21 prime time television specials.

Bugs Bunny celebrated his 80th birthday on July 27, 2020 . . . exactly 80 years from the premiere of A Wild Hare on July 27, 1940.

GEORGE DAUGHERTY

George Daugherty has conducted more than 250 American and international orchestras and earned a Primetime Emmy Award, five Emmy nominations, and numerous other awards for his work in television and film. He made his New York Philharmonic debut in 2015 with four sold-out concerts in David Geffen Hall, and recently returned to guest conduct the New York Philharmonic with three more sold-out Lincoln Center concerts. His recent performances also include The Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as The Boston Pops, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Detroit Symphony. He has conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl, and the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap, appearing with each orchestra more than 20 times, and returned to the L.A. Phil/Hollywood Bowl in summer 2020. Current and recent appearances also include the Milwaukee Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, The Cleveland, and Minnesota orchestras; the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and the Las Vegas Philharmonic. He has been a frequent guest conductor at the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra in London and on tour, including a 30 city tour, “A Royal Christmas,” headlined by Dame Julie Andrews and the late Christopher Plummer.

Mr. Daugherty has also conducted the symphony orchestras of Dallas, Houston, Seattle, Baltimore, Montreal, Buffalo, Vancouver, Toronto, Atlanta, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Omaha, Syracuse, Winnipeg, Columbus, Edmonton, North Carolina, Charlotte, Delaware, Phoenix, New Orleans, and Grant Park, as well as the Rochester Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, and Pacific Symphony; the Danish National, Moscow, West Australia, Melbourne, and Adelaide symphony orchestras, and others, as well as the Italian opera houses of Rome, Florence, Torino, and Reggio Emilia. He conducted for American Ballet Theatre, Bavarian Staatsoper Ballet, La Scala Ballet, and Teatro Regio di Torino, and was music director of Ballet Chicago, Chicago City Ballet, Louisville Ballet, and Ballet San Jose.

Biographies

He received a Primetime Emmy for his production of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, which he produced, directed, conducted, and wrote, and for which he was also Emmy- nominated for Outstanding Music Direction. He was executive producer and writer of the PBS/Sesame Workshop children’s series Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat, and received an Emmy nomination for his ABC network music education specials.

In 1990, Daugherty created Bugs Bunny At The Symphony, the live-orchestra-and-film stage production that has since played to critical acclaim and sold-out houses all over the world.

DAVID KA LIK WONG

David Ka Lik Wong was awarded with a coveted Emmy Award for his work as producer for Peter and the Wolf in 1996, and was also nominated for an Emmy in 1994 as producer of Rhythm & Jam, the ABC music education series, both with George Daugherty.

He teamed with Daugherty as producer for the Peter and the Wolf project, the animation/ live-action production starring Kirstie Alley, Lloyd Bridges, and new animated characters of legendary animation director Chuck Jones.

He was also Producer for Warner Bros.’ documentary/animated film The Magical World of Chuck Jones, directed by Daugherty.

He has been Producer for the Warner Bros. touring concert production Bugs Bunny On Broadway since 1990, and Bugs Bunny at the Symphony since 2010, as they have toured the world, and he co-produced two original audio CD albums for Warner Bros. Records and WaterTower Music. Mr. Wong has also produced innovative symphony orchestra concerts for some of the world’s leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Boston Pops, National Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and dozens of other. He was also Executive Producer and the co-creator of the touring concert Rodgers & Hammerstein on Stage and Screen.

Mr. Wong teamed with Daugherty, Amy Tan, and Sesame Workshop to produce, write, and create the new Emmy Award winning PBS / Sesame Workshop children’s television series Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat, based on the book by Ms. Tan, with 80 episodes appearing on PBS.

He grew up in San Francisco, and currently lives in Las Vegas.

For the full Bugs Bunny at the Symphony program, please use the QR code below.

REINHARDT CONDUCTS BEETHOVEN

Friday, November 15, 2024 at 11:15 am

Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 7:30 pm

ALLEN-BRADLEY HALL

Ruth Reinhardt, conductor

Alessio Bax, piano

CARL MARIA VON WEBER

Overture to Oberon, J. 306

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

Concerto No. 3 in C minor for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 37

I. Allegro con brio

II. Largo

III. Rondo: Allegro

Alessio Bax, piano

INTERMISSION

FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN

Symphony No. 80 in D minor, Hob. I:80

I. Allegro spiritoso

II. Adagio

III. Menuetto

IV. Presto

PAUL HINDEMITH

Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber

I. Allegro

II. Turandot: Scherzo

III. Andantino

IV. March

The 2024.25 Classics Series is presented by the UNITED PERFORMING ARTS FUND and ROCKWELL AUTOMATION. Additional support for Reinhardt Conducts Beethoven provided by the SCHOENLEBER FOUNDATION. The MSO Steinway Piano was made possible through a generous gift from MICHAEL AND JEANNE SCHMITZ

The length of this concert is approximately 2 hours. All programs are subject to change.

Guest Artist Biographies

RUTH REINHARDT

Ruth Reinhardt is the newly appointed music director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic, commencing with the 2025-26 season, the fifth in the orchestra’s 80-year history, and serves as music director designate in the 2024-25 season.

In 2024-25, Reinhardt will conduct orchestras on four continents, including Europe and North America, and will make her debuts in Asia with both the Seoul Philharmonic and Hong Kong Philharmonic, as well as in South America with the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra. She begins the season at the Lucerne Festival, debuts with the symphony orchestras of Bamberg and Nuremberg, Beethoven Orchester Bonn, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, and the Residentie Orchester in the Hague, and returns to the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, and Malmö SymfoniOrkester. In the U.S., Reinhardt will conduct the Rhode Island Philharmonic and make debut appearances with the St. Louis and Charlotte symphony orchestras, along with return engagements with the Milwaukee and San Diego symphony orchestras.

Reinhardt’s interests have led her toward an in-depth exploration of contemporary repertoire, leading the symphonic and orchestral world into the 21st century. Strongly centered around European composers with emphasis on women composers of the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century, she brings new names and fresh faces to many orchestras for the first time. Among those whose works appear often in her programs are Grażyna Bacewicz, Kaija Saariaho, Lotta Wennäkoski, Daníel Bjarnason, Dai Fujikura, and Thomas Adès. Parallel programming can be complementary or contrasting, from the classic moderns such as Lutosławski, Bartók, Stravinsky, and Hindemith, or core composers of the symphonic canon, including Brahms, Rachmaninoff, and Dvořák.

In recent seasons, Reinhardt has made an important series of symphonic debuts in North America with the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, and symphony orchestras of San Francisco, Detroit, Houston, Baltimore, Milwaukee, and Seattle. In Europe, her appearances have been no less impressive — the Orchestre National de France, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Tonkünstler Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, and Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, to name a few.

Born in Saarbrücken, Germany, into a medical family — both parents and her sister are physicians — Reinhardt knew early that music would be her calling and studied violin and composition, writing an opera while still in high school. Her studies took her first to the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste, where she studied violin with Rudolf Koelman and conducting with Constantin Trinks and Johannes Schlaefli, and continued at The Juilliard School of Music in the conducting class of Alan Gilbert and James Ross. Upon graduating, she joined the Dallas Symphony for two seasons as assistant conductor to Jaap van Zweden and was simultaneously a Dudamel Fellow of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, spending her summers as assistant conductor to the Lucerne Festival Academy to artistic co-directors Wolfgang Rihm and Matthias Pintscher. Previous fellowships include the Seattle Symphony (2015-2016), Tanglewood Music Center (2015), and Taki Concordia associate conducting fellow (2015-2017). Ruth Reinhardt currently resides in Switzerland.

Guest Artist Biographies

ALESSIO BAX

Combining exceptional lyricism and insight with consummate technique, Alessio Bax is without a doubt “among the most remarkable young pianists now before the public” (Gramophone). He catapulted to prominence with First Prize wins at both the 2000 Leeds International Piano Competition and the 1997 Hamamatsu International Piano Competition and is now a familiar face on five continents as a recitalist, chamber musician, and concerto soloist. He has appeared with over 150 orchestras, including the New York, London, Royal, and St. Petersburg philharmonic orchestras, the Boston, Baltimore, Dallas, Cincinnati, Seattle, Sydney, and City of Birmingham symphony orchestras, and the Tokyo and NHK symphonies in Japan, collaborating with such eminent conductors as Marin Alsop, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sir Andrew Davis, Hannu Lintu, Fabio Luisi, Sir Simon Rattle, Ruth Reinhardt, Yuri Temirkanov, and Jaap van Zweden.

As a renowned chamber musician, he recently collaborated with Lisa Batiashvili, Joshua Bell, Ian Bostridge, Lucille Chung, James Ehnes, Vilde Frang, Steven Isserlis, Daishin Kashimoto, François Leleux, Sergei Nakariakov, Emmanuel Pahud, Lawrence Power, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Paul Watkins, and Tabea Zimmermann, among many others.

Since 2017, he has been the artistic director of the Incontri in Terra di Siena Festival, a Summer Music Festival in the Val d’Orcia region of Tuscany. He appears regularly in festivals such as Seattle, Bravo! Vail, Salon-de-Provence, Le Pont in Japan, Great Lakes, Verbier, Ravinia, Music@Menlo, Aspen, and Tanglewood.

In 2009, he was awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant, and four years later he received both the Andrew Wolf Chamber Music Award and the Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists. Bax’s most recent album releases are Forgotten Dances and Debussy & Ravel for Two with Lucille Chung. His celebrated Signum Classics discography also includes Italian Inspirations; Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier” and “Moonlight” sonatas (a Gramophone Editor’s Choice); Beethoven’s “Emperor” concerto; Bax & Chung, a duo disc with Lucille Chung; Alessio Bax plays Mozart, recorded with London’s Southbank Sinfonia; Alessio Bax: Scriabin & Mussorgsky (named “Recording of the Month ... and quite possibly ... of the year” by MusicWeb International); Alessio Bax plays Brahms (a Gramophone Critics’ Choice); Bach Transcribed; and Rachmaninov: Preludes & Melodies (an American Record Guide Critics’ Choice). Recorded for Warner Classics, his Baroque Reflections album was also a Gramophone Editor’s Choice. He performed Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier” sonata for Daniel Barenboim in the PBS-TV documentary Barenboim on Beethoven: Masterclass, available on DVD from EMI.

At the age of 14, Bax graduated with top honors from the conservatory of Bari, his hometown in Italy, and after further studies in Europe, he moved to the United States in 1994. He has been on the piano faculty of Boston’s New England Conservatory since the fall of 2019 and serves as coartistic director of the Joaquín Achúcarro Foundation for emerging pianists.

Bax lives in New York City with pianist Lucille Chung and their daughter, Mila.

Program notes by Elaine Schmidt

CARL MARIA VON WEBER

Born 18 November 1786; Eutin, Prince-Bishopric of Lübeck, Holy Roman Empire [modern-day Germany]

Died 5 June 1826; London, England

Overture to Oberon, J. 306

Composed: 1825-1826

First performance: 12 April 1826; Covent Garden, London

Last MSO performance: 11 April 1992; Neal Stulberg, conductor

Instrumentation: 2 flutes; 2 oboes; 2 clarinets; 2 bassoons; 4 horns; 2 trumpets; 3 trombones; timpani; strings

Approximate duration: 10 minutes

The story of Carl Maria von Weber’s tenth opera, Oberon, is also the story of the end of his life. The German composer, who straddled the Classical and Romantic eras, had already been diagnosed with tuberculosis — a death sentence in his day — by the time he received a very generous commission from Covent Garden in London. He was to compose the opera Oberon, a story based on a 1780, French, epic poem that had its roots in the medieval French story.

Weber knew he would not live to enjoy the proceeds of the commission, but he also knew his family would need that money after his death. He began by studying English in Germany to help him understand the project’s English-language libretto. Ironically, the opera would be translated into German shortly after the premiere and would be performed in English only rarely after that. Weber completed the opera and traveled to England to conduct a wildly successful premiere of the opera on 12 April 1826. He conducted a total of 12 performances of Oberon before his health began to fail. He passed away in London just over seven weeks after the opera’s premiere, too weak to make the trip back to Germany to see his wife and children again.

Fully titled Oberon, or The Elf-King’s Oath, the opera is a thrill-ride of a story, combining characters from Shakespeare, Greek romances, and tales from “the Orient.” It features star-crossed lovers, villains, murder, abduction, pirates, and then — out of the blue — a happy ending. Despite its initial success, and the fact that Weber was a highly respected composer who is remembered as the father of German Romantic opera, and was quite influential on such later composers as Debussy, Stravinsky, Mahler, Chopin, Liszt, Mendelssohn, and Hindemith (whose Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber appears on this program), the opera has never become part of the standard repertoire.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

Born 17 December 1770; Bonn, Germany

Died 26 March 1827; Vienna, Austria

Concerto No. 3 in C minor for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 37

Composed: 1800

First performance: 5 April 1803; Ludwig van Beethoven, conductor and piano; Theater an der Wien

Last MSO performance: 22 January 2011; Edo de Waart, conductor; Ronald Brautigam, piano

Instrumentation: 2 flutes; 2 oboes; 2 clarinets; 2 bassoons; 2 horns; 2 trumpets; timpani; strings

Approximate duration: 34 minutes

Yes, German composer, pianist, and conductor Ludwig van Beethoven lost his hearing. But it is important to remember that his hearing loss was a torturously long affair, beginning when he was just 28 years old. He began struggling with the progressive hearing loss shortly before he began writing his Symphony No. 1 and his Piano Concerto No. 3.

The young Beethoven studied with several of Vienna’s musical luminaries, including Antonio Salieri and Franz Joseph Haydn, whose Symphony No. 80 appears on this MSO program. In fact, when Haydn met the young Beethoven and accepted him as a student, he wrote, rather prophetically, “Beethoven will one day be considered one of Europe’s greatest composers, and I should be proud to be called his teacher.”

The premiere of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 took place on one of several benefit concerts Beethoven presented — to benefit himself. He didn’t get the piano part fully written out before the concert, which we know from the student he drafted to turn pages for the piece. “I saw empty pages with here and there what looked like Egyptian hieroglyphics, unintelligible to me, scribbled to serve as clues for him,” his student wrote. “He played mostly from memory, since, obviously, he had put so little on paper. So, whenever he reached the end of some invisible passage, he gave me a surreptitious nod and I turned the page. My anxiety not to miss such a nod amused him greatly and the recollection of it at our convivial dinner after the concert sent him into gales of laughter.”

In this concerto, one hears elements of Mozart’s piano concertos, along with some of Beethoven’s signature fire and drama. The energy and agitation of the piece’s two outer movements are balanced by a calm, flowing, middle movement, much of which is built on chamber music sensibilities.

FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN

Born 31 March 1732; Rohrau, Austria

Died 31 May 1809; Vienna, Austria

Symphony No. 80 in D minor, Hob. I:80

Composed: 1784

First performance: Unknown; First publication in 1785

Last MSO performance: MSO Premiere Instrumentation: flute; 2 oboes; 2 bassoons; 2 horns; strings

Approximate duration: 21 minutes

Nearly everything about the life and career of Austrian composer Franz Joseph Haydn was remarkable, from the enormous volume of music he wrote to his having been plucked from his family’s small-town home to begin his musical studies at age six — never to live there again. By age nine, he was a chorister and student at Saint Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, the Austrian capital’s most important church. Haydn wrote more than 100 symphonies, 68 string quartets,

60 piano sonatas, 50 concertos, 20 operas, and much more. He is hailed today as the “father” of the symphony and the string quartet and was integral to the development of Classical style itself.

His life was not a walk in the park, however. He was expelled from the Saint Stephen’s chorus and school when he was 17, the moment his voice changed. Left penniless and homeless, he stayed with a friend, freelancing as he could, while educating himself in music theory and the works of C.P.E. Bach. He was eventually hired by the powerful, aristocratic Esterhazy family. He eventually developed an international reputation, became one of the best-known musicians of his era, and became close friends with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Haydn’s Symphony No. 80 is a delightful piece of music, but remains one of his lesser-known symphonies, partly because it bears no catchy nickname, such as “The Surprise” (No. 94), and partly because it is a bit mercurial in mood. It moves from a minor key and a bit of Sturm und Drang (“Storm and Stress”) early in the first movement to lighter, sunnier writing. A simply gorgeous second movement gives way to a third movement built on a bit of Gregorian chant that Haydn had used 64 symphonies earlier, followed by a somewhat humorous final movement.

PAUL HINDEMITH

Born 16 November 1895; Hanau, Germany

Died 28 December 1963; Frankfurt, West Germany

Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber

Composed: March 1940 – 29 August 1943

First performance: 20 January 1944; Artur Rodziński, conductor; New York Philharmonic

Last MSO performance: 4 June 2011; Edo de Waart, conductor

Instrumentation: 2 flutes; piccolo; 2 oboes; English horn; 2 clarinets; bass clarinet; 2 bassoons; contrabassoon; 4 horns; 2 trumpets; 3 trombones; tuba; timpani; percussion (bass drum, chimes, cymbals, glockenspiel, gong, snare drum, tambourine, tenor drum, tom-tom, triangle); strings

Approximate duration: 21 minutes

German composer, violist, conductor, and teacher Paul Hindemith arrived in the U.S. in 1940, after fleeing Nazi Germany. It remains a matter of academic debate today whether it was his music, including a racy, early opera, to which the Nazis objected, or his rather freely expressed disdain for the Nazi Party. He was in and out of favor with the Nazis for some time, eventually seeing his music labeled Entartete Kunst (“Degenerate Art”), a designation that meant nothing but trouble. Whichever the case, he and his wife, who was partly Jewish, left Germany in 1938. They settled for a time in Switzerland, eventually making their way to America, where Hindemith had some contacts from tours he had made to the States as a violist. He began teaching at several schools, including Yale, where one of his students was conductor and composer Lukas Foss, who would serve as music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra from 1981 to 1986.

Hindemith began working on his Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber in 1940, after arriving in the U.S. He based the work on some obscure themes by Weber, who had been influential for many German composers Hindemith admired, taking the themes from a book of the composer’s piano duets. He began the piece as a ballet, changing it to its current form after artistic differences with the project’s choreographer. The ballet material formed the basis for the piece’s first and third movements, with music from Weber’s Turandot forming the core of the second movement. Themes from the piano duet return in the fourth movement. The piece is colorful, brilliantly orchestrated, and quite engaging for listeners. It was an immediate success following its premiere, and remains Hindemith’s most popular piece today.

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BACH’S CHRISTMAS ORATORIO

Friday, November 22, 2024 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 2:30 pm

ALLEN-BRADLEY HALL

Ken-David Masur, conductor

Marisa Karchin, soprano

Georgia Burashko, mezzo-soprano

Eric Stoklossa, tenor

Daniel Ochoa, baritone

Milwaukee Symphony Chorus

Cheryl Frazes Hill, director

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

Weihnachtsoratorium [Christmas Oratorio], BWV 248 Cantata I

1. Chorus: Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage

2. Recitative (tenor): Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit

3. Recitative (alto): Nun wird mein liebster Bräutigam

4. Aria (alto): Bereite dich, Zion

5. Chorale: Wie soll ich dich empfangen

6. Recitative (tenor): Und sie gebar ihren ersten Sohn

7. Chorale (chorus—soprano only) with recitative (bass): Er ist auf Erden kommen arm

8. Aria (bass): Großer Herr, o starker König

9. Chorale: Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein

Cantata II

10. Sinfonia (orchestra)

11. Recitative (tenor): Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend

12. Chorale: Brich an, o schönes Morgenlicht

13. Recitative (tenor, soprano): Und der Engel sprach zu ihnen

14. Recitative (bass): Was Gott dem Abraham verheißen

15. Aria (tenor): Frohe Hirten, eilt, ach eilet

16. Recitative (tenor): Und das habt zum Zeichen

17. Chorale: Schaut hin, dort liegt in finstern Stall

INTERMISSION

18. Recitative (bass): So geht denn hin, ihr Hirten geht

19. Aria (alto): Schlafe, mein Liebster, genieße der Ruh

20. Recitative (tenor): Und alsobald war da bei dem Engel

21. Chorus: Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe

22. Recitative (bass): So recht, Ihr Engel, jauchzt und singet

23. Chorale: Wir singen dir in deinem Heer

Cantata III

24. Chorus: Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen

25. Recitative (tenor): Und da die Engel von ihnen gen Himmel fuhren

26. Chorus: Lasset uns nun gehen gen Bethlehem

27. Recitative (bass): Er hat sein Volk getröst

28. Chorale: Dies hat er alles uns getan

29. Duet (soprano, bass): Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen

30. Recitative (tenor): Und sie kamen eilend

31. Aria (alto): Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder

32. Recitative (alto): Ja, ja, mein Herz, soll es bewahren

33. Chorale: Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren

34. Recitative (tenor): Und die Hirten kehrten wieder um

35. Chorale: Seid froh dieweil

24. Chorus: Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen (repeated)

To read the original German text of the first three cantatas of the Christmas Oratorio alongside their full English translation, scan the QR code below to access The Language of Song, our guide to the intersection of language and music for the MSO’s 2024.25 Classics season.

The 2024.25 Classics Series is presented by the UNITED PERFORMING ARTS FUND and ROCKWELL AUTOMATION

The length of this concert is approximately 2 hours. All programs are subject to change.

Guest Artist Biographies

MARISA KARCHIN

New York-based soprano Marisa Karchin is a compelling performer of art song, opera, and contemporary music. Karchin is pursuing a doctorate in voice at The Juilliard School, where she is a recipient of the 2023-24 Presser Award.

At Juilliard, Karchin has performed diverse chamber repertoire, including Unsuk Chin’s Akrostichon-Wortspiel at Alice Tully Hall, Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire, and John Musto’s The Book of Uncommon Prayer. As an avid proponent of new music and interdisciplinary collaborations, Karchin has also recently performed with the Da Capo Chamber Players, Brooklyn New Music Collective, and in an immersive theater piece with Jody Oberfelder Projects. With the Glass Clouds Ensemble, a chamber collective that partners with local environmental organizations, she has held artist residencies at Yellow Barn and Avaloch Farm Music Institute and is a current Chamber Music America Ensemble Forward and Artistic Projects grant recipient.

Other recent highlights include performances with the Westchester Philharmonic String Quartet, Lehigh University’s Very Modern Ensemble, and the East Winds Quintet in a centennial performance of Earl Kim’s “Rattling On.” She has premiered many works with the Chelsea Music Festival and conductor Ken-David Masur by contemporary composers including Helen Grime, Santa Ratniece, and Aigerim Seilova.

Karchin was awarded first prize in the 2018 Joy in Singing International Art Song Competition, presenting a debut recital at Carnegie’s Weill Hall, and was a finalist in the 2020 Art Song Preservation Society’s Mary Trueman Art Song Vocal Competition. In opera, Karchin has performed in productions of Cendrillon, The Pirates of Penzance, Orlando, and Falstaff, with artist residencies at Dayton Opera and Opera Saratoga.

Guest Artist Biographies

GEORGIA BURASHKO

Canadian mezzo-soprano Georgia Burashko has been celebrated for her “full-bodied and velvety” voice and “nuanced” interpretations (Ôlyrix). Currently on tour with Les Arts Florissants and Le Jardin des Voix as a soloist in Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, Burashko has performed at Teatro alla Scala, Versailles Opera House, The Lincoln Center, and the BBC Proms with the ensemble. She subsequently embarked on a solo recital tour with stops at the Muziekgebouw Amsterdam, TivoliVredenberg Utrecht, and De Doelen Rotterdam.

Her current season includes debuts with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and the Grand Philharmonic Choir for Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. The 202324 season also saw Burashko perform Handel’s Messiah under the batons of Nicholas McGegan, with both the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Edmonton Symphony, and Jeannette Sorrel with Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra.

In 2022, Burashko released her debut album with harpist Michela Amici entitled Dal suono dolcissimo. Featuring 17th-century Italian music and new works for voice and baroque harp, Burashko and Amici toured their program in recital across both Italy and the Netherlands. Burashko completed a master’s in early music with distinction from the Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag, where she attended as a Holland Fellow with full scholarship, and was a Young Bach Fellow with De Nederlandse Bachvereniging for the 2022-23 season. Burashko was a 2019 Rebanks Family Fellow at the Glenn Gould School and holds a bachelor’s degree from McGill University, a master’s degree from the University of Toronto, and has completed residencies at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Royaumont Abbeye, and with the European Hanseatic Ensemble.

Guest Artist Biographies

ERIC STOKLOSSA

Eric Stoklossa has established himself as a prominent figure in the international opera and concert scene, with a prolific career spanning leading opera houses, prestigious music festivals, and renowned concert halls.

Stoklossa made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2009, portraying Aljeja in Janáček’s From the House of the Dead, conducted by Pierre Boulez. He debuted at La Scala in January 2009 as Janek in Janáček’s The Makropulos Affair. A milestone in his career was his portrayal of Andres in Wozzeck at the Wiener Festwochen in Vienna in 2010. In October 2016, Stoklossa had the honor of presenting Bach’s St. John Passion in Shanghai, marking the first official performance of this masterpiece in China. Stoklossa remains a sought-after guest artist, collaborating with esteemed conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle and Esa-Pekka Salonen, and delivering solo concerts across Europe.

Recent highlights include performances of Korngold’s Die tote Stadt in Holland, a tour with Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, several concerts featuring Péter Eötvös’s Oratorium balbulum in Munich and Budapest, conducted by the composer himself, the world premiere of Richard Flury’s song cycle Rosen in Texas, and the world premiere of a new English version of Schumann’s Dichterliebe, now titled The Poet’s Love(r), featuring additional original poems by Rebecca Nelsen. Since 2019, Stoklossa has held a professorship at Texas Tech University, where he teaches applied voice lessons and courses in oratorio literature, opera literature, and German diction for singers. Alongside his teaching responsibilities, Stoklossa regularly performs in Texas, aiming to establish and promote German Lied and Bach’s music in the region, further demonstrating his dedication to sharing his expertise and passion with the next generation of musical talents.

DANIEL OCHOA

In demand on both the German and international scene, baritone Daniel Ochoa has made a name for himself as a highly versatile singer. His 202425 season includes concerts with the MDR Symphony Orchestra, the Munich Symphony Orchestra, and the Bremen Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as appearances at the Kölner Philharmonie, the Berliner Philharmonie, the Liederhalle Stuttgart, the Isarphilharmonie Munich, the Laeiszhalle Hamburg, and Oslo Cathedral. Following an invitation from Ken-David Masur, Ochoa will make his U.S. debut with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.

Ochoa, who was born in East Germany to a German mother and an Equatorial Guinean father, discovered his love of singing at the age of five in the children’s radio choir in his hometown of Leipzig. His vocal studies took him to three universities and beyond, with inspiring teachers such as Anthony Baldwin, Hans-Joachim Beyer, Matthias Goerne, Thomas Quasthoff, and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.

Ochoa joined the Vienna Volksoper from 2012 to 2017. During this time, his collaboration with directors such as Brigitte Fassbaender, Achim Freyer, Marco Arturo Marelli, and Rolando Villazón provided particularly important inspiration. Among the special enrichments in Ochoa’s career are undoubtedly his encounters with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Reinhard Goebel, Howard Griffiths, Helmuth Rilling, and Paul McCreesh.

The field of lieder has always been close to Ochoa’s heart. Repeated appearances as a lieder singer at the Schumann House in Leipzig were soon followed by recitals at the Mendelssohn and Max Reger Festivals, the Leipzig Gewandhaus, and the Hamburg State Opera. A highly acclaimed CD recording was made in 2018 of Gregor Meyer’s arrangement of Schubert’s Winterreise for baritone, piano, and mixed choir.

Sorel Etrog,The Source, 1964

Program notes by Elaine Schmidt

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

Born 31 March 1685; Eisenach, Germany

Died 28 July 1750; Leipzig, Germany

Weihnachtsoratorium [Christmas Oratorio], BWV 248

Composed: 1734; recycles material from works as early as 1714

First performance: 25 December 1734-6 January 1735; Johann Sebastian Bach, conductor; St. Thomas and St. Nicholas churches in Leipzig

Last MSO performance: 22 December 1991; Lee Erickson, conductor; Milwaukee Symphony Chorus [excerpts]

Instrumentation: 2 flutes; 2 oboes (both doubling on oboe d’amore); English horn; bassoon; 3 trumpets; timpani; harpsichord; organ; strings

Approximate duration: 1 hour and 27 minutes (Cantatas I-III)

Bach’s beloved Christmas Oratorio is not technically an oratorio. Oratorios are large narrative works, usually based on a religious story. They are often described as operas presented without costumes or scenery. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio is actually a set of six sacred cantatas that Bach either wrote or retooled from sacred and secular cantatas he had written previously. He created the cantatas in 1734 for the six feast days that made up the Christmas season in German Lutheran churches of his day. The cantatas may not form a traditional oratorio, but they are deftly woven into a unified musical fabric that both tells and celebrates the Christmas story. A devout Lutheran who signed much of his music with his name and the initials SDG for Soli Deo gloria (“Glory to God alone”), Bach published very little of his music. Once a piece had been performed, he set the music aside and moved on to his next project. He reused some of his music in later pieces, as did many composers of the era, including George Frideric Handel. Bach also “borrowed” melodies from other composers, creating a new setting of each borrowed melody to suit his purpose.

Bach’s Christmas Oratorio was first performed during the Christmas/Epiphany season of 1734–1735, at the Saint Thomas and Saint Nicholas Lutheran Churches in Leipzig. The cantatas were performed, one per feast day, in the morning at one church and in the afternoon at the other, as Bach was responsible for the music at both churches. The oratorio was not performed again in its entirety until 1857 — five generations after its first performance. Were it not for composer Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847) and his sister Fanny (1805–1847) reintroducing the works of the largely forgotten composer in now-famous performances of Bach’s St. Matthew in Berlin (1829) and Leipzig (1841), the oratorio, along with a great deal of Bach’s other music, could easily have been lost forever. It was Eduard Grell, director of the Berlin Sing-Akademie, who conducted the 1857 performance that reintroduced the Christmas Oratorio to the public. The MSO will perform the first three cantatas of the Christmas Oratorio in this program.

Cantata I

The first cantata of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, meant to be performed on Christmas Day, tells the story of Christ’s birth. This lined up with the celebration of Christmas in Germany at the time, which began on Christmas Day and ended on Epiphany (6 January). The six cantatas, often referred to as the six parts of the oratorio, are each written for singers and different instrumental ensembles, giving each cantata its own unique sound. The first cantata covers the birth of

Christ, closing with Martin Luther’s familiar hymn tune, “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her” (“From Heaven Above to Earth I Come”), which was written in 1539 and is sung today in Christian churches of many different denominations. The orchestra for this cantata includes three trumpets and timpani, creating a grand orchestral sound in spots.

Cantata II

Bach intended the second cantata of his Christmas Oratorio for performance on the Second Day of Christmas, 26 December. It focuses on angels announcing the birth of Christ to shepherds in a field. Gone are the big sounds of trumpet and timpani in favor of strings, flutes, and oboes. With these instruments, Bach created a softer, warmer sound and a soulful, more introspective mood for this cantata than the first. The oboes are Bach’s way of replicating the shawm, an early relative of the oboe, which are known to have been carried and played by shepherds in biblical times.

Cantata III

The trumpets and timpani return in the third cantata, along with strings, flutes, and oboes. This cantata, intended for performance on the Third Day of Christmas, 27 December, depicts the shepherds’ adoration of Christ following the announcement of his birth in the second cantata. Bach had to be a bit creative in terms of the scripture readings prescribed for the various days of the Christmas season to make a flowing narrative from cantata to cantata. He combined the regal sounds of trumpets and timpani with the earthier sounds of flutes and oboes as the shepherds come to pay their respects to Christ.

BRING THE SYMPHONY HOME.

MAY 16, 2025 AT 7:30PM

MAY 18, 2025 AT 2:30PM

UIHLEIN HALL, MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL

FILM WITH ORCHESTRA

Friday, November 29, 2024 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 2:30 pm

ALLEN-BRADLEY HALL

Ryan Tani, conductor

Directed by BRIAN HENSON

Produced by BRIAN HENSON & MARTIN G. BAKER

Co-Producer JERRY JUHL

Executive Producer FRANK OZ

Screenplay by JERRY JUHL

Original Story by CHARLES DICKENS

Original Score by MILES GOODMAN

Songs by PAUL WILLIAMS

PRESENTATION LICENSED BY

© Disney

Presentation licensed by © Disney Concerts. All rights reserved.

Today’s performance lasts approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, including a 20 minute intermission. The performance is a presentation of the feature film The Muppet Christmas Carol with a live performance of the film’s entire score. Out of respect for the musicians and your fellow audience members, please remain seated until the conclusion of the end credits.

Cinema projectors generously donated by MARCUS CORPORATION. This weekend’s media sponsor is ONMILWAUKEE.

©Disney

CANADIAN BRASS

Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 7:30 pm

ALLEN-BRADLEY HALL

Canadian Brass, brass quintet

Joe Burgstaller, trumpet

Mikio Sasaki, trumpet

Jeff Nelsen, horn

Keith Dyrda, trombone

Chuck Daellenbach, tuba

PROGRAM TO BE ANNOUNCED FROM THE STAGE

The length of this concert is approximately 2 hours. All programs are subject to change.

Guest Artist Biographies

CANADIAN BRASS

The original challenge was to develop an audience for an ensemble of brass players that, at the time, had no standing in the concert world. What set Canadian Brass apart from all other performing artists in 1970 was the relentless search for repertoire that was both loved by its performers and embraced by a growing brass audience.

The musical experiences of the members, along with the interests and wishes of audiences, informed the programs that the group created, ranging from Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Joplin, Gershwin, and Ellington to ballet, opera, and Schickele. The ensemble never ignored an opportunity to relate to its audience, which brought the Brass to international attention. They were at first criticized for talking to audiences and now take pride in seeing the entire concert world embracing engagement as a fundamental element of performance.

The Brass have averaged two and a half full-length recordings per year in its 52 years of existence for a total of 138 recordings. They have received a combined total of 24 Grammy and Juno nominations and won the German Echo Award for Goldberg Variations. A North American group taking Bach back to Europe and winning approval at the highest level was a crowning achievement! Most recently during the COVID-19 era, the Brass created another award-winning recording, Canadiana. The album features unique arrangements of many Canadian superstars including Joni Mitchell, k.d. lang, Bruce Cockburn, Drake, and DeadMau5.

Education continues to be at the forefront of Canadian Brass’s yearly activities. There are over one million Canadian Brass quintet repertoire books in the hands of students in every country with a strong brass tradition. Between Hal Leonard Music Publishing distributing its 800 unique individual brass titles and SmartMusic now making available some 76 titles for mixed ensemble use, the Brass continues to shape the future of chamber music ventures.

For a comprehensive Canadian Brass biography, blend the complete history of any random fivemusician ensemble and it will yield a year in the world of Canadian Brass. “We’ve created ballets, played Carnegie Hall, toured China during its 1977 reopening, and performed in front of five prime ministers, but most importantly, performed for more than ten million friends, family, and audiences worldwide so far. We did all this so we could play Bach,” says tubist and founder Chuck Daellenbach.

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ADRIAN DUNN’S WONDERFUL: A SOULFUL CELEBRATION

Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 7:30 pm

ALLEN-BRADLEY HALL

Adrian Dunn, vocalist

Tony Famous, rapper

DaNotra Harris, soprano

LaQuentin Jenkins, tenor

Malik Johnson, cello

Darshaya Oden, soprano

Erica Renee, soprano

ADRIAN DUNN Hallelujah

Rejoice

Behold

Wonderful

Holy

Darshaya Oden, soprano

Malik Johnson, cello

Erica Renee, soprano

LaQuentin Jenkins, tenor

Glory and Honor

DaNotra Harris, soprano

Amen

DONNY HATHAWAY, NADINE MCKINNOR, AND MYKOLA LEONTOVYCH/arr. Adrian Dunn

The Carols

Thank You

Tony Famous, rapper Bells

Black Messiah

The length of this concert is approximately 2 hours. All programs are subject to change.

Guest Artist Biographies

ADRIAN DUNN

Adrian Dunn is a critically acclaimed singer, composer, and conductor. His most recent composition, Emancipation, a PBS special, was nominated for two Emmy Awards in 2023, featuring The Adrian Dunn Singers and Dunn’s Rize Orchestra. He made his European debut at the Klangwolke Festival in Linz, Austria with the Adrian Dunn Singers. In 2022, he made his Ravinia Festival debut as a composer with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing his choral arrangement of “Goin’ Home” from Dvořák’s New World Symphony conducted by Marin Alsop.

In 2022, Dunn won The American Prize in Composition for his Requiem from The Mass for the Unarmed Child and was named in “Chicago’s Top 10 moments in classical music, opera and jazz that defined 2021” by the Chicago Tribune. He made his debut as composer and conductor with the Chicago Philharmonic in June 2021. His interview on his original composition The Black Messiah was published in Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy. Dunn has sung with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Grant Park Symphony Chorus, and Blossom Festival Chorus. He was the chorus conductor for Joel Thompson’s Seven Last Words of the Unarmed with The Adrian Dunn Singers at Chicago’s Symphony Center and Wentz Hall in 2019. He was the chorus master for Chicago Opera Theater’s production of Freedom Ride in 2019 and sang in their 2018 production of Moby Dick. He was tenor soloist for Handel’s Messiah at Rockefeller Chapel in 2018 and for Puccini’s Messa di Gloria with the Northwestern University Orchestra. He was the tenor soloist for Michael Tippett’s A Child of Our Time with the University of Chicago Orchestra in 2019 and was guest artist in residence with the University of Chicago Chorus. In 2019, he was the composer for the Lyric Unlimited Opera education program at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

As an active professional singer, producer, and songwriter, Dunn has had the privilege of working with gospel greats such as Tremaine Hawkins, Myron Butler, Melonie Daniels, Troy Bright, Lamar Campbell, Damien Sneed, Walt Whitman and the Soul Children of Chicago, Smokie Norful, Jonathan Nelson, and many more. He was awarded the 2015 Album Producer of the Year for AME Live featuring the AME International Mass Choir from the Rhythm of Gospel Awards. He is currently the director of choral programs and a voice faculty member at The Colburn School.

MALIK JOHNSON

Malik Johnson, aka 99TheProducer, is a classically-trained cellist, composer, and music producer based in Chicago. Johnson has worked with the Matt Jones Orchestra, which has opened doors for him to appear on National Public Radio’s Tiny Desk series in 2017, record on John Legend’s Christmas album released in 2018, and be featured on Kirk Franklin’s Grammy Award-winning album, Long Live Love, and work with countless other professional recording artists.

In 2021, Johnson produced for the recording artist Masego on his Grammy Award-nominated album Studying Abroad. In addition to his skill as an outstanding cellist, Johnson is a self-taught guitarist and a formally trained pianist. Malik’s current projects include writing and arranging strings for upcoming projects, teaching, and producing his debut album as 99TheProducer.

Guest Artist Biographies

THE ADRIAN DUNN SINGERS

The Adrian Dunn Singers are a group of 12 professional singers of diverse musical backgrounds based in Chicago. Members of group have trained at some of the top conservatories and universities in America. They were recently featured on the PBS WTTW special Emancipation featuring The Adrian Dunn Singers and Rize Orchestra. Emancipation marks the group’s fourth commercial album release.

They made their Ravinia Festival Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut in 2022 with the original arrangement of “Goin’ Home” from Dvořák’s New World Symphony conducted by Marin Alsop. They performed the score of the 2022 major motion picture Honk for Jesus and made their Zipper Concert Hall debut at The Colburn School in 2022. In 2021, they made their Chicago Philharmonic debut in Dunn’s original composition Redemption at The Harris Theater for Music & Dance at Millennium Park.

They premiered The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed by Joel Thompson with the Chicago Sinfonietta in 2019 at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center and Wentz Concert Hall. The group made their National Cathedral debut in 2018. They were the featured vocal ensemble in the 2018 Jónsi & Alex world tour of Riceboy Sleeps. They were included in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prayer exhibit in 2017 by prolific South African artist James Webb.

The group’s commercial albums include Revelations, Redemption Live, The Black Messiah, and Emancipation: Act I & II. In addition to recording the Revelations album, they have performed for the Payne Theological Seminary presidential inauguration in 2017 and provided music for their 2018 commencement exercises. The group recently made their National Cathedral Debut and have toured Orlando, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Indianapolis.

Did you know ticket sales only cover 30% of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s budget? That’s where generous patrons like you step in. Your tax-deductible donation to the annual fund makes a world of difference. It ensures the MSO can continue bringing live orchestral music to our community.

Help the MSO finish 2024 on a high note! Simply scan the QR code or use any of the ways listed below to make a secure contribution. Every dollar counts, big or small.

Together, we keep the music alive in Wisconsin’s largest performing arts organization. Thank you for your continued support!

VISIONARIES

Commitments of $1,000,000 and above

One Anonymous Donor

Jane Bradley Pettit

Charles and Marie Caestecker

Concertmaster Chair

Ellen and Joe Checota

Herzfeld Foundation

Krause Family Principal Horn Chair

Dr. Keith Austin Larson

Principal Organ Chair

Dr. Brent and Susan Martin

Phyllis and Harleth Pubanz

Gertrude M. Puelicher Education Fund

Michael and Jeanne Schmitz President and Executive Director Chair

John and Judith Simonitsch Tuba Chair

Stein Family Foundation

Principal Pops Conductor Chair

Polly and Bill Van Dyke Music Director Chair

James E. Van Ess

Principal Librarian Chair

Thora M. Vervoren

First Associate Concertmaster Chair

The Family of Evonne Winston and Paul Nausieda

PHILANTHROPISTS

Commitments of $500,000 and above

Donald B. Abert Principal Bass Chair

Mr. Richard Blomquist

Patrice L. (Patti) Bringe

Margaret and Roy Butter

Principal Flute Chair

Donald and Judy Christl Fred Fuller Trumpet Chair

Douglas M. Hagerman

Andrea and Woodrow Leung Principal Second Violin Chair and Fred Fuller

Dorothea C. Mayer Principal Cello Chair

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra League Principal Oboe Chair

Northwestern Mutual Foundation

Melitta S. Pick Endowed Piano Chair

Walter L. Robb Family

Principal Trumpet Chair

Robert T. Rolfs Foundation

Gertrude Elser and John Edward Schroeder Guest Artist Fund

Walter Schroeder Foundation Principal Harp Chair

Muriel C. and John D. Silbar Family Principal Bassoon Chair

Marjorie Tiefenthaler Principal Trombone Chair

Richard O. and Judith A. Wagner Family Principal Viola Chair

BENEFACTORS

Commitments of $100,000 and above

Four Anonymous Donors

Patty and Jay Baker Fund for Guest Artists

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick J.O. Blachly

Philip Blank English Horn Chair in memoriam to John Martin and his favorite cousin, Beatrice Blank

Judith and Stanton Bluestone

Estate of Lloyd Broehm

Louise Cattoi, in memory of

David and Angela Cattoi

Lynn Chappy Salon Series

Terry J. Dorr and Michael Holloway

Elizabeth Elser Doolittle

Charitable Trust

Franklyn Esenberg

Principal Clarinet Chair

David L. Harrison Endowment for Music Education

Estate of Sally Hennen

Karen Hung and Robert Coletti

Richard M. Kimball

Bass Trombone Chair

William Randolph Hearst Foundation

Judy and Gary Jorgensen

Judith A. Keyes MSOL Docent Fund

Charles A. Krause

Donald and JoAnne Krause Music Education Endowment Fund

Martin J. Krebs

Co-Principal Trumpet Chair

Laskin Family Foundation

Charles and Barbara Lund

Marcus Corporation Foundation

Guest Artist Fund

Annette Marra

Christian and Kate Mitchell

William and Marian Nasgovitz

Andy Nunemaker French Horn Chair

John and Elizabeth Ogden

Gordana and Milan Racic

The Erika Richman MSO-MYSO

Reading Workshop Fund

Pat and Allen Rieselbach

Friends of Janet F. Ruggeri

Assistant Principal Viola Chair

Allison M. & Dale R. Smith

Percussion Fund

Estate of Walter S. Smolenski, Jr.

Bert L. & Patricia S. Steigleder Charitable Trust

Donald B. and Ruth P. Taylor

Assistant Principal Clarinet Chair

Gile and Linda Tojek

Mrs. William D. Vogel

Barbara and Ted Wiley

Jack Winter Guest Artist Fund

Fern L. Young

Endowment Fund for Guest Artists

MUSICAL LEGACY SOCIETY

The Musical Legacy Society recognizes and appreciates the individuals who have made a planned gift to the MSO. The MSO invites you to join these generous donors who have remembered the Orchestra in their estate plans.

Eight Anonymous Donors

George R. Affeldt

Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Aring, Jr.

Dana and Gail Atkins

Robert Balderson

Bruce and Margaret Barr

Adam Bauman

Priscilla and Anthony Beadell

Mr. F. L. Bidinger

Dr. Philip and Beatrice Blank

Mr. Richard Blomquist

Judith and Stanton Bluestone

Patrice L. (Patti) Bringe

Jean S. Britt

Laurette Broehm

Neil Brooks

Anthony and Vicki Cecalupo

Lynn Chappy

Ellen and Joe Checota

Donald and Judy Christl

Mary E. and James M. Connelly

Jo Ann Corrao

Lois Ellen Debbink

Mary Ann Delzer

Julie Doneis

Terry Dorr and Michael Holloway

Donn Dresselhuys

Beth and Ted Durant

Rosemarie Eierman

Franklyn Esenberg

John and Sue Esser

JoAnn Falletta

Donald L. Feinsilver, M.D.

Susie and Robert Fono

Ruth and John Fredericks

Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Goldsmith

Brett Goodman

Roberta Gordon

Marta P. and Doyne M. Haas

Douglas M. Hagerman

Ms. Jean I. Hamann

Ms. Sybille Hamilton

Kristin A. Hansen

David L. Harrison

Judy Harrison

Cheryl H. and Roy L. Hauswirth

Cliff Heise

Sidney and Suzanne Herszenson

Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Hoke

Glenda Holm

Jean and Charles Holmburg

Karen Hung and Robert Coletti

Myra Huth

William and Janet Isbister

Lee and Barbara Jacobi

Leon and Betsy Janssen

Marilyn W. John

Faith L. Johnson

Mary G. Johnson

Jayne J. Jordan

Judy and Gary Jorgensen

Debra Jupka

James A. and Robin S. Kasch

Howard Kaspin

James H. Keyes

Judith A. Keyes

Richard and Sarah Kimball

Mary Krall

JoAnne and Donald Krause

Martin J. and Alice Krebs

Musical Legacy Society/Annual Fund

Ronald and Vicki Krizek

Cynthia Krueger-Prost

Steven E. Landfried

Mr. Bruce R. Laning

Victor Larson

Tom and Lise Lawson

Andrea and Woodrow Leung

Mr. Robert D. Lidicker

Mr. and Mrs. John B. Liebenstein

Drs. John and Theresa Liu

Dr. John and Kristie Malone

Dana and Jeff Marks

Steven and Mary Rose Marinkovich

Ms. Kathleen Marquardt

Susan and Brent Martin

JoAnne Matchette

Rita T. and James C. McDonald

Patricia and James McGavock

Nancy McGiveran

Nancy McKinley-Ehlinger

Mrs. Christel U. Mildenberg

Christian and Kate Mitchell

Joan Moeller

Ms. Melodi Muehlbauer

Robert Mulcahy

Kathleen M. Murphy

Andy Nunemaker

Diana and Gerald Ogren

Lynn and Lawrence Olsen

Mr. and Mrs. Philip W. Orth

Lygere Panagopoulos

Jamshed and Deborah Patel

Gerald T. and Carol K. Petersen

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald R. Poe

Julie Quinlan Brame and Jason Brame

Ms. Harvian Raasch-Hooten

Christine Radiske and Herbert Quigley

Steve and Susan Ragatz

Catherine A. Regner

Pat and David Rierson

Pat and Allen Rieselbach

Dr. Thomas and Mary Roberts

Roger B. Ruggeri and Andrea K. Wagoner

Nina Sarenac

Mary B. Schley in recognition of David L. Schley

Dr. Robert and Patty Schmidt

Michael J. and Jeanne E. Schmitz

James and Kathleen Scholler

Charitable Fund

James Schultz and Donna Menzer

Mason Sherwood and Mark Franke

John and Judith Simonitsch

Margles Singleton

Lois Bernard and William Small

Dale and Allison Smith

Susan G. Stein

John Stewig and Richard Bradley

Dr. Robert A. and Kathleen Sullo

Terry Burko and David Taggart

Lois Tetzlaff

E. Charlotte Theis

Gile and Linda Tojek

David Tolan

James E. Van Ess

Thora Vervoren

Dr. Richard O. and Judith A. Wagner

Veronica Wallace-Kraemer

Michael Walton

Brian A. Warnecke

Earl Wasserman

Alice Weiss

Carol and James Wiensch

Rolland and Sharon Wilson

Floyd Woldt

Sandra and Ross Workman

Marion Youngquist

For more information on becoming a Musical Legacy Society member, please contact the Development Office at 414-226-7891.

ANNUAL FUND

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra truly values the music lovers in the concert hall, and we thank our contributors to the Annual Fund for investing their time and support in this treasure. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions to the Annual Fund as of September 30, 2024.

CONDUCTOR CIRCLE

$100,000 and above

Clair and Mary Baum

Ellen and Joe Checota

David Herro and Jay Franke

Mr. and Mrs. George C. Kaiser

Donald and JoAnne Krause

Marty Krebs

Sheldon and Marianne Lubar

Charitable Fund of the Lubar

Family Foundation

Drs. Alan and Carol Pohl

Michael Schmitz

Julia and David Uihlein

$50,000 and above

Laura and Mike Arnow

Evonne Winston

$25,000 and above

One Anonymous Donors

Bobbi and Jim Caraway

Anthony and Vicki Cecalupo

Mr. and Mrs. Franklyn Esenberg

Mrs. Susan G. Gebhardt

Doug Hagerman

Judith A. Keyes

Robert and Gail Korb

Dr. Brent and Susan Martin

Thomas Sherman

Drs. George and Christine Sosnovsky Charitable Trust

Drs. Robert Taylor and Janice McFarland Taylor

Thora Vervoren

James and Sue Wiechmann

$15,000 and above

Marilyn and John Breidster

Elaine Burke

Mary and James Connelly

Dr. Deborah and Jeff Costakos

Mrs. Alyce Coyne Katayama

Barbara and Harry L. Drake

George E. Forish, Jr.

Roberta Gordon and Allen Young

Jewish Community Foundation

Eileen and Howard Dubner Donor Advised Fund

Judy and Gary Jorgensen

Kim and Nancy Graff

Drs. Carla and Robert Hay

Charles and Barbara Lund

Maureen McCabe

Christian and Kate Mitchell

Lois and Richard Pauls

Pat Rieselbach

Brian M. Schwellinger

Sara and Jay Schwister

Allison M. and Dale R. Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Tiffany

Haruki Toyama

Alice Weiss

$10,000 and above

Three Anonymous Donors

Dr. Rita Bakalars

Richard and JoAnn Beightol

Ara and Valerie Cherchian

Jennifer Dirks

Jack Douthitt and Michelle Zimmer

Bruce T. Faure M.D.

Mary Lou M. Findley

The Paul & Connie Flagg Family Charitable Fund

Elizabeth and William Genne

Judith J. Goetz

Stephanie and Steve Hancock

Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Hoke

Barbara Karol

Christine Krueger

Geraldine Lash

Mr. Peter L. Mahler

Mark and Donna Metzendorf

Dr. Mary Ellen Mitchanis

Bob and Barbara Monnat

Patrick and Mary Murphy

Andy Nunemaker

Brian and Maura Packham

Julie Peay

Ellen Rohwer Pappas and Timothy Pappas

Leslie and Aaron Plamann

Richard V. Poirier

Christine Radiske and Herbert Quigley

Lynn and Craig Schmutzer

Nancy and Greg Smith

Pamela Stampen

Mrs. George Walcott

Tracy S. Wang, MD

Mr. and Mrs. Francis Wasielewski

Diana J. Wood

Herbert Zien and Elizabeth Levins

PRINCIPAL CIRCLE

$5,000 and above

Five Anonymous Donors

Anthony and Kathie Asmuth

Fred and Kay Austermann

Thomas Bagwell and Michelle Hiebert

Robert Balderson

Natalie Beckwith

Lois Bernard

Richard and Kay Bibler

Nancy Vrabec and Alastair Boake

William and Barbara Boles

Suzy and John Brennan

Mary and Terry Briscoe

Roger Byhardt

Chris and Katie Callen

Donald and Judy Christl

Sandra and Russell Dagon

Karen Dobbs and Chris DeNardis

Mrs. William T. Dicus

Joanne Doehler

Jacquelyn and Dalibor Drummer

Beth and Ted Durant

Dr. Eric Durant and Scott Swickard

Dr. and Mrs. Harry A. Easom

Elizabeth and Herodotos Ellinas

Dr. Donald Feinsilver and JoAnn Corrao

Beth and Jim Fritz

Alison Graf and Richard Schreiner

Jean and Thomas Harbeck

Family Foundation

James and Crystal Hegge

Ms. Mary E. Henke

Mark and Judy Hibbard

Peg and Mark Humphrey

Lee and Barbara Jacobi

Leon Janssen

Jayne J. Jordan

Lynn and Tom Kassouf

Benedict and Lee Kordus

Alysandra and Dave Lal

Peter and Kathleen Lillegren

Gerald and Elaine Mainman

Dr. Ann H. and Mr. Michael J. McDonald

John and Linda Mellowes

Mr. and Mrs. George Meyer

Judith Fitzgerald Miller

Rusti and Steve Moffic

William J. Murgas

Mark Niehaus

Barbara and Layton Olsen

Elaine Pagedas

Sharon and James Petrie

Dr. and Mrs. Richard A. Pierce-Ruhland

Jim and Fran Proulx

Jerome Randall and Mary Hauser

Dr. Donna Recht and Dr. Robert Newby

Dr. Marcia J.S. Richards

Steve and Fran Richman

Pat and David Rierson

Roger Ritzow

Dr. Thomas and Mary Roberts

Gayle G. Rosemann and Paul E. McElwee

Patricia and Ronald Santilli

Mr. Thomas P. Schweda

Lynne Shaner

Joan Spector

Carlton Stansbury

Mr. and Mrs. Roland E. Strampe

Bob and Betty Streng

Jim Strey

John and Karen Tomashek

Mrs. James Urdan

Nora and Jude Werra

Janet Wilgus

Mr. and Mrs. Donald S. Wilson

Jessica R. Wirth

Mr. Wilfred Wollner

$3,500 and above

Dr. Philip and the spirit of Beatrice Blank

Mr. David E. Cadle

Steven and Buffy Duback

Stan and Janet Fox

Debby Ganaway

Kurt and Rosemary Glaisner

Margarete and David Harvey

Drs. Margie Boyles and Stephen Hinkle

Barbara Hunt

David and Mel Johnson

Olof Jonsdottir and Thorsteinn Skulason

Megumi Kanda Hemann and Dietrich Hemann

Stanley Kritzik

Norm and Judy Lasca

Dr. Joseph and Amy Leung

Ann Rosenthal and Benson Massey

Judy and Tom Schmid

James Schultz and Donna Menzer

Greg and Marybeth Shuppe

Richard and Sheryl Smith

Roger and Judy Smith

Sue and Boo Smith

James and Catherine Startt

Corinthia Van Orsdol and Donald Petersen

Jim Ward

Larry and Adrienne Waters

Carol and Richard Wythes

Sandra Zingler

Leo Zoeller

ORCHESTRA CIRCLE

$2,000 and above

Seven Anonymous Donors

Drs. Helmut and Sandra Ammon

Dr. Joan Arvedson

Richard and Sara Aster

Bruce and Maggie Barr

Priscilla and Anthony Beadell

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Beckman

Jacqlynn Behnke

Roger J. Bialcik

Marlene and Bert Bilsky

Scott Bolens and Elizabeth Forman

Virginia Bolger

Dr. and Mrs. Squat Botley

Walter and Virginia Boyer

Cheri and Tom Briscoe

Marcia P. Brooks and Edward J. Hammond

Teri Carpenter

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Chernof

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Christie

Lynda and Tom Curl

Larry and Eileen Dean

Paul Dekker

Ms. Nancy A. Desjardins

Sigrid Dynek and Barry Axelrood

Donald Elliott

Signe and Gerald Emmerich, Jr.

Shirley Erwin

Joseph and Joan Fall

Mr. and Mrs. A. William Finke

Anne and Dean Fitzgerald

Jo Ann and Dale Frederickson

Allan and Mary Ellen Froehlich

Timothy Gerend

Jane K. Gertler

Pearl Mary Goetsch

Karleen Haberichter

Ginny Hall

Dale and Sara Harmelink

Judith and David Hecker

Robert Hey

Charles and Jean Holmburg

Howard and Susan Hopwood

Robert S. Jakubiak

Pauline and Thomas Jeffers

Marilyn W. John

Candice and David Johnstone

Matthew and Kathryn Kamm

Dr. Bruce and Anna Kaufman

Dr. Jack and Myrna Kaufman

Dr. and Mrs. Kim

Mr. and Mrs. F. Michael Kluiber

Maritza and Mario Laguna

Drs. Kaye and Prakash Laud

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Levy

Tom Lindow

Frank Loo and Sally Long

Kathleen Lovelace

Dr. and Mrs. Debesh Mazumdar

Guy and Mary Jo McDonald

Mr. and Mrs. Dean Mehlberg

Genie and David Meissner

Gregory and Susan Milleville

Mark and Carol Mitchell

Melodi Muehlbauer

Richard and Isabel Muirhead

Ms. Mary Ann Mueller

Raymond and Janice Perry

Gerald T. and Carol K. Petersen

David J. Peterson

Kathryn Koenen Potos

John and Susan Pustejovsky

Philip Reifenberg

Drs. Walter and Lisa Rich

Susan Riedel

Dottie Rotter

Mr. Thomas Schneider

Rev. Doug and Marilyn Schoen

Mr. and Mrs. Mark W. Schwallie

Dr. and Mrs. Kevin R. Siebenlist

Paul and Frances Seifert

Margles Singleton

Mrs. George R. Slater

Dr. and Mrs. C. John Snyder

Leonard Sobczak

Loretto and Dick Steinmetz

Jeff and Jody Steren

Ian and Ellen Szczygielski

Annual Fund/Gala Sponsors

David Taggart and Terry Burko

John and Anne Thomas

Joan Thompson

Mr. Stephen Thompson

Mr. Ed Tonn

Mike and Peg Uihlein

James Van Ess

Ann and Joseph Wenzler

Prati and Norm Wojtal

Jim and Sandy Wrangell

Marshall Zarem

William and Denise Zeidler

$1,000 and above

Five Anonymous Donors

Donald and Jantina Adriano

Ruth Agrusa

Sue and Louie Andrew

Betty Arndt

Mr. Paul A. Baerwald

Paul Barkhaus

James and Nora Barry

Rodney C. Bartlow and Judith K. Stephenson

Mr. James M. Baumgartner

Jack Beatty

Dianne and David Benner

Richard Bergman

Elliot and Karen Berman

Mrs. Kristine Best

Mr. Lawrence Bialcik

Karen and Geoffrey Bilda

Marjorie Bjornstad

Greg Black

David and Sherry Blumberg

Robert Borch and Linda Wickstrom

Lois and Robert Brazner

Dan and Peg Bresnahan

James Brown and Ann Brophy

Michael and Marianna Bruch

Dr. and Mrs. James D. Buck

Mike and Ericka Burzynski

Ms. Trish Calvy

Karen and Harry Carlson

Ms. Carol A. Carpenter

Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Cecil

John Chain

B. Lauren and Margaret Charous

Edith Christian

Margaret Cieslak-Etlicher

Margaret Crosby

Garrett and Anne de Vroome Kamerling

Mrs. Linda DeBruin

Ms. Kristine Demski

Mary Paula Dix

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dougherty

Gloria and Peter Drenzek

Mary Ann Dude

Thomas Durkin and Joan Robotham

Jill and George Fahr

Helen Forster

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Freitag

Martha Giacobassi

Matelan and Carole Glaske

Ralph and Cherie Gorenstein

Stephen and Bernadine Graff

Mr. and Mrs. James Gramentine

Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Dresselhuys Family Fund

Leesley B. and Joan J. Hardy

Jay Kay Foundation Fund

Mr. and Mrs. James Grigg

Douglas and Margaret Ann Haag

Randall J. and Judith F. Hake

Family Foundation

Leila and Joe Hanson

Jacqueline Heling

Jean and John Henderson

Dr. Sidney and Suzanna Herszenson

Ms. Judy Hessel

Mr. and Mrs. Bernard C. Hlavac

Jeanne and Conrad Holling

Richard and Jeanne Hryniewicki

Terry Huebner

Mr. and Mrs. James Hunter III

Deane and Vicky Jaeger

Kathryn and Alan Janicek

Amy S. Jensen

Faith L. Johnson

Karen and Dean Johnson

Maja Jurisic and Don Fraker

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kahn

Mr. Stephen Kaniewski

Rose and Dale Kaser

Brain and Mary Lou Kennedy

Ms. Carole Kincaid

Robert and Dorothy King

Ms. Jane Kivlin

Joseph W. Kmoch

Jonathan and Willette Knopp

Michael Koss/Koss Foundation

Anthony and Susan Krausen

Milton and Carol Kuyers

Mary E. Lacy

Larry and Mary LeBlanc

Micaela Levine and Thomas St. John

John and Janice Liebenstein

Mr. and Mrs. David Lindberg

Matt and Patty Linn

Ann Loder

Bruce and Elizabeth Loder

Richard and Roberta London

Neill and Fran Luebke

Wayne and Kristine Lueders

Stephen and Jane Lukowicz

Ms. Joan Maas

Ann MacIver

Stephen and Judy Maersch

Dr. John and Kristie Malone

Mr. Peter Mamerow

Jeanne and David Mantsch

Steven and Mary Rose Marinkovich

Dr. Daniel and Constance McCarty

Mr. Brian McLinden

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. McLinn

Drs. Daryl Melzer and Rita Hanson

Mrs. Debra L. Metz

Ray and Elaine Meyer

Ms. Jean L. Mileham

Dr. David Miyama

Christine Mortensen

William and Laverne Mueller

David and Gail Nelson

Jean A. Novy

Laurie Ocepek

Susan M. Otto

Dr. and Mrs. James T. Paloucek

Cathy P. Procton

William and Cynthia Prost

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Quadracci

Dr. Francis J. Randall

Dr. Ken C. Redlin

Lysbeth and James Reiskytl

Karen and Paul Rice

Dan and Anna Robbins

Mrs. David Y. Rosenzweig

Roger Ruggeri and Andrea Wagoner

Drs. Larry and Polly Ryan

Keri Sarajian and Rick Stratton

Wilbert and Genevieve

Schauer Foundation

Lawrence and Katherine Schnuck

Elaine and Martin Schreiber

Stephen and Lois Schreiter

Phil Schumacher and Pauline Beck

Scott Silet and Kate Lewis

John and Judith Simonitsch

Mr. Reeves E. Smith

Ken and Dee Stein

Bonnie L. Steindorf

Sally Swetnam

Ms. Lola Tegeder

Rebecca and Robert Tenges

Tim and Bonnie Tesch

Kent and Marna Tess-Mattner

Dean and Katherine Thome

Mr. and Mrs. James S. Tidey

Joy Towell

Drs. Steven and Denise Trinkl

Constance U’Ren

Gary and Cynthia Vasques

Michael Walton

Ruth A. Way

Ms. Beth L. Weckmueller

Henry J. Wellner and James Cook

Barbara Wesener

David Wesley

Ms. Stephanie Wesselowski

Robert and Barbara Whealon

A. James White

Robert and Lana Wiese

Linda and Dan Wilhelms

Terry and Carol Wilkins

Jay and Madonna Williams

Rolland and Sharon Wilson

Ron and Alice Winkler

Lee and Carol Wolcott

Daryl and Bonnie Wunrow

Joan and Robert Ziegler

Marilyn and Doug Zwissler

GALA SPONSORS

Laura and Mike Arnow

ATC

Baird Funds

BMO Bank

Brewers Community Foundation, Inc.

Ernst & Young, LLP

Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.

Interstate Parking Company

Gala Paddle Raisers/Corporate & Foundation

Johnson Controls, Inc.

Johnson Financial Group

Marietta Investment Partners

Susan and Brent Martin

Bob and Barb Monnat

Northern Trust

Northwestern Mutual

Old National Bank

PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP

Quarles

Rockwell Automation

SixSibs Capital

Dale and Allison Smith

We Energies Foundation

Westbury Bank

Herb Zien and Liz Levins

GALA PADDLE RAISERS

André Allaire

Mary Allmon and Michael Allen

Alice Ambrowiak

Laura and Mike Arnow

Alexander Ayers

Tom and Susan Beranek

Erica and Eric Berg

John and Caroline Bolger

Virginia Bolger

Meg Boyd

Bob Bronzo

Randy Bryant and Cecelia Gore

Norman Buebendorf

Robert Burris and Marlene King

Daniel and Allison Byrne

Derrick Callister

Steven and Gillian Chamberlin

Joseph Checota and Ellen McNamara Checota

Amy and Frederick Croen

Lafayette Crump

Jillian Culver

Michael Cyrus

Benjamin Dern

George and Sandra Dionisopoulos

Jennifer Dirks

Matt Domski

Elizabeth and Robert Draper

Martha and Aaron Ebent

Linda Edelstein

Marquita Edwards

Joshua Erickson

Danielle Finn

Thayer Fisher

Moira Fitzgerald and Peter Kammer

Michael and Pamela Glorioso

Daniel and Samantha Grambow

John and Peggy Griffith

Gruber Law Offices LLC

Laura Gutierrez

Calvin Harris

Zoë Hastert

Paul Hauer

Kathryn Hausman and Matthew Millson

Barrie and Rob Henken

Renee Herzing

Karen Hung and Robert Coletti

Rachel Idso

Joan Johnson

Candice Johnstone

Judy and Gary Jorgensen

Alyce Katayama

Pat and Christine Keyes

Matt Kiefer

Marilyn King

Vivian King

Michael Krco

Konrad Kuchenbach

Tom Lindow

Xia Liu

Christopher and Krista Ludwig

Peter Mahler

Melissa and Dylan Mann

Susan and Brent Martin

Christian and Kate Mitchell

Teresa Mogensen

Theodore and Kelsey Molinari

Robert and Barbara Monnat

Bruce and Joyce Myers

Mitchell Nelles and Ellie Gettinger

Brian and Maura Packham

Nicholas and Alison Pardi

Richard and Lois Pauls

Tai and Andrew Pauls

Irina Petrakova Otto

Michael and Jayne Pink

Leslie and Aaron Plamann

Kathryn Podmokly

Deanna Singh and Justin Ponder

Anne and Thomas Reed

Kathryn Reinardy

Patricia Rieselbach

Michael Rossetto

Niko Ruud

Jakob Schjoerring-Thyssen

Michael Schmitz

Evamarie Schoenborn

Richard Schreiner and Alison Graf

Margot Schwartz

Gretchen Seamons

SixSibs Capital

Dale and Allison Smith

Pamela Stampen

Eric Stolzmann

Beth Straka

Bruce Tilley

Linda and Gile Tojek

Haruki Toyama and Brenda Bulinski

Susan Varela

Sarah Wagner

Marie Weiss

Michael and Cathy White

Jeff Yabuki and Gail Groenwoldt Yabuki

Andy Zilinskas

CORPORATE & FOUNDATION

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra truly values the generosity of musicloving patrons in the concert hall and throughout the community. We especially thank our Corporate and Foundation contributors for investing their time and support to this treasure. We gratefully acknowledge contributions from:

$1,000,000 and above

United Performing Arts Fund

$250,000 and above

Argosy Foundation

The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation

Laskin Family Foundation

$100,000 and above

Herzfeld Foundation

Rockwell Automation

We Energies Foundation

$50,000 and above

Bader Philanthropies, Inc.

Chase Family Foundation

Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Helen and Jeanette Oberndorfer Fund

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Fund

Melitta S. and Joan M. Pick

Charitable Trust

$25,000 and above

Anonymous

Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Gertrude Elser and John Edward Schroeder Fund

Norman and Lucy Cohn Family Fund

Johnson Controls, Inc.

Milwaukee County Arts Fund (CAMPAC)

R.D. and Linda Peters Foundation

Schoenleber Foundation, Inc.

Wisconsin Arts Board

$15,000 and above

A.O. Smith Foundation, Inc.

Bert L. & Patricia S. Steigleder

Charitable Trust

Krause Family Foundation

National Endowment for the Arts

U.S. Bank

Wisconsin Department of Tourism

$10,000 and above

Brewers Community Foundation

Brico Fund

Ellsworth Corporation

General Mills Foundation

Gladys E. Gores Charitable Foundation

Greater Milwaukee Foundation

David C. Scott Foundation

Donald and Barbara Abert Fund

William A. and Mary M. Bonfield, Jr. Fund

Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation

Komatsu Mining Corp Foundation

Northwestern Mutual

Ralph Evinrude Foundation, Inc.

William and Janice Godfrey

Family Foundation

Wispact Foundation

$5,000 and above

Charles D. Ortgiesen Foundation

Dean Family Foundation

Frieda and William Hunt Memorial

Matching Gifts/Golden Note Partners/Marquee Circle/Tributes

Gene and Ruth Posner Foundation, Inc.

Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Margaret E. Sheehan Memorial Fund

Roxy and Bud Heyse Fund/Journal Fund

Julian Family Foundation

Koeppen-Gerlach Foundation, Inc.

Milwaukee Arts Board

Richard G. Jacobus Family Foundation

Rite-Hite Holding Corporation Foundation

$2,500 and above

Camille A. Lonstorf Trust

Enterprise Holdings

Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Del Chambers Fund

Eleanor N. Wilson Fund

ELM II Fund

Henry C., Eva M., Robert H. and Jack J. Gillo Charitable Fund

Margaret Heminway Wells Fund

Hamparian Family Foundation

Theodore W. Batterman Family Foundation

Westbury Bank

$1,000 and above

Albert J. & Flora H. Ellinger Foundation

Anthony Petullo Foundation, Inc.

Clare M. Peters Charitable Trust

Delta Dental of Wisconsin

Educators Credit Union

Gardner Foundation

Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Bechthold Family Fund

Carrie Taylor & Nettie Taylor

Robinson Memorial Fund

Cottrell Balding Fund

George and Christine Sosnovsky Fund

George and Joan Hoehn Family Fund

Irene Edelstein Memorial Fund

Mildred L. Roehr & Herbert W. Roehr Fund

Japan Foundation

Loyal D. Grinker

Steinway Piano Gallery of Milwaukee

Townsend Foundation

Usinger Foundation

$500 and above

Barney Family Foundation

Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Robert C. Archer Designated Fund

MLG Capital

MATCHING GIFTS

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra gratefully acknowledges the following corporations and foundations who match their employees’ contributions to the Annual Fund.

Abbvie

Aurora Health Care

Benevity Community Impact Fund

BMO Harris Bank

Bucyrus Foundation, Inc.

Caterpillar Foundation

Church Mutual Insurance Company

Dominion Foundation

Eaton Corporation

Erie Insurance

GE Foundation

Google

Humana

Johnson Controls Foundation

Kohl’s Corp.

Madison Investments

Microsoft Corp.

Morgan Stanley

Robert W. Baird & Co.

SherwinWilliams

Stifel

Thrivent Financial

United Way of Greater Atlanta

United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County

Wisconsin Energy Corporation

GOLDEN NOTE PARTNERS

The MSO gratefully acknowledges the following organizations and individuals for their gifts of product or services:

Becker Design

Belle Fiori – Official Event Florist of the MSO

Beth and Michael Giacobassi

Brian and Maura Packham

The Capital Grille

Central Standard Craft Distillery

Coffman Creative Events

Downer Avenue Wine & Spirits

Drury Hotels

Encore Playbills

Eric and Brenda Hobbs

GO Riteway Transportation Group

Hilton Milwaukee City Center and Milwaukee ChopHouse

Kohler Co.

Peter Mahler

Marcus Hotels & Resorts

Marcus Corporation

Susan and Brent Martin

Ogletree Deakins

Sojourner Family Peace Center

Steinway Piano Gallery of Milwaukee

Studio Gear – Official Event Partner of the MSO

Wisconsin Public Radio

MARQUEE CIRCLE

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra proudly partners with the following members of the 2024.25 Marquee Circle.

We thank these generous partners of our annual corporate subscription program for their charitable contributions and for connecting their corporate communities with the MSO.

DeWitt Law Firm

Ellsworth Corporation

Hupy and Abraham, S.C.

Walker Forge, Inc.

TRIBUTES

In honor of Barry Blackwell, M.D.’s

90th Birthday

Elliot and Eva Lipchik

In memory of Thallis Hoyt Drake

Charles Q. Sullivan

In memory of Alan I. Ettinger

Ms. Suzy B. Ettinger and Ms. Sally B. Waters

In memory of Robert Fewel

Dale and Darlene Kirchner

Ann Terwilliger

In memory of Michael Patrick Hauer

Marlene Cook

Linda Cutler

Gertrude Czajkowski

Jean Czajkowski

Jim and Nancy Czajkowski

Sandra Degeorge

Mary Duffy

Joan Hauer

Don and Debbie Hecker

Greg and Dawn Hecker

Yuqiu Jiang

Julianne John

Patricia Krajnak

Debby Lazich

Christel Mildenberg

JoAnna Poehlmann

Jane and Jim Schneider

In memory of Christine Hausladen

Alex Kaker

Cheryl Limmex

Laurie Reid

Carol Walsh

In honor of Tim Klabunde’s long career with the MSO and retirement

Dr. and Mrs. David Daniels

In memory of Ken McHugh

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hauer

In honor of our wonderful, joy-giving, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

Judith Gregor

In honor of the MSO’s Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Work

Tina Itson

In memory of Dr. Alan Pohl

Robert and Nan Ciralsky

Kathleen Eilers and Barry Blackwell

Linda Frank

Alan and Iris Goldberg

Anne Hazelwood

Dr. and Mrs. Gordon E. Lang

Ari Osur

Dr. Carol Pohl

Vera Ries

In memory of Dave Rierson

Jack and Donna Hill

Judy and Gary Jorgensen

Tributes

Patricia Rieselbach

Jim and Sandy Wrangell

In memory of I. Carl Romer

Beulah Romer Erickson

In honor of Patrick Schley

Imogene Schley

In memory of Jane Tisdel

Dr. Paul Loewenstein and Jody

Kaufman Loewstein

In memory of Frank Thometz

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony W. Asmuth, III

Charles Brennan and Beth Stohr

Mary and James Connelly

Joann Corrao

Gregory Custer

Nancy Einhorn

Dr. Bob Henschel

Judy and Gary Jorgensen

Edmund Jung

Spencer Marquart

Dan and Susan Minahan

Christine Rahardt

Michael and Cathy White

MSO Board of Directors

OFFICERS

Susan Martin, Chair

Andy Nunemaker, Immediate Past Chair

Christian Mitchell, Chair-Elect

David Uihlein, Honorary Co-Chair

Julia Uihlein, Honorary Co-Chair

Gregory Smith, Secretary; Chair, Governance Committee

Patrick Murphy, Treasurer; Chair, Finance Committee

EX OFFICIO DIRECTORS

Douglas M. Hagerman, Chair, Chair’s Council

Ken-David Masur, Music Director, Polly and Bill Van Dyke Music Director Chair

Mark Niehaus, President & Executive Director, Michael and Jeanne Schmitz Chair

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Susan Martin, Chair

Andy Nunemaker, Immediate Past Chair

Christian Mitchell, Chair-Elect

Douglas M. Hagerman Chair, Chair’s Council

Eric E. Hobbs

Robert Klieger, Chair, Players’ Council

Mark A. Metzendorf, Chair, Advancement Committee

Patrick Murphy, Treasurer; Chair, Finance Committee

Mark Niehaus, President & Executive Director, Michael and Jeanne Schmitz Chair

Maura Packham, Chair, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (EDI) Task Force

Michael J. Schmitz

Gregory Smith, Secretary; Chair, Governance Committee

Haruki Toyama, Chair, Artistic Direction Committee

ELECTED DIRECTORS

Kate Brewer

Daniel Byrne

Jeff Costakos

Jennifer Dirks

Steve Hancock, Chair, Education Committee

Charlotte Hayslett

Renee Herzing

Alyce Coyne Katayama

Peter Mahler, Chair, Grand Future Committee

Teresa Morgensen

Robert B. Monnat

Leslie Plamann, Chair, Audit Committee

Craig A. Schmutzer

Jay E. Schwister, Chair, Retirement Plan Committee

Dale R. Smith

Pam Stampen

Herb Zien, Chair, Facilities Management Committee

DESIGNATED DIRECTORS

City

Sachin Chheda

Theodore Perlick Molinari

Pegge Sytkowski, Chair, Marketing & Advocacy Committee

County

Fiesha Lynn Bell

Rene Izquierdo

Garren Randolph

Niko Ruud

PLAYER DIRECTORS

Robert Klieger, Chair, Players’ Council

Ilana Setapen, Player-at-Large

CHAIR’S COUNCIL

Douglas M. Hagerman, Chair

Chris Abele

Laura J. Arnow

Richard S. Bibler

Charles Boyle

Roberta Caraway

Judy Christl

Mary E. Connelly

Donn R. Dresselhuys

Eileen Dubner

Franklyn Esenberg

Marta P. Haas

Jean Holmburg

Barbara Hunt

Leon Janssen

Judy Jorgensen

James A. Kasch

Lee Walther Kordus

Michael J. Koss

JoAnne Krause

Martin J. Krebs

Keith Mardak

Andy Nunemaker

James G. Rasche

Stephen E. Richman

Michael J. Schmitz, Immediate Past Chair

Joan Steele Stein

Linda Tojek

Joan R. Urdan

Larry Waters

Kathleen A. Wilson

MSO ENDOWMENT & FOUNDATION TRUSTEES

Bruce Laning, Trustee Chair

Amy Croen

Steven Etzel

Douglas M. Hagerman  Bartholomew Reute

David Uihlein

PAST CHAIRS

Andy Nunemaker (2014-2020)

Douglas M. Hagerman (2011-2014)

Chris Abele (2004-2011)

Judy Jorgensen (2002-2004)

Stephen E. Richman (2000-2002)

Stanton J. Bluestone* (1998-2000)

Allen N. Rieselbach* (1995-1998)

Edwin P. Wiley* (1993-1995)

Michael J. Schmitz (1990-1993)

Orren J. Bradley* (1988-1990)

Russell W. Britt* (1986-1988)

James H. Keyes (1984-1986)

Richard S. Bibler (1982-1984)

John K. MacIver* (1980-1982)

Donn R. Dresselhuys (1978-1980)

Harrold J. McComas* (1976-1978)

Laflin C. Jones* (1974-1976)

Robert S. Zigman* (1972-1974)

Charles A. Krause* (1970-1972)

Donald B. Abert* (1968-1970)

Erhard H. Buettner* (1966-1968)

Clifford Randall* (1964-1966)

John Ogden* (1962-1964)

Stanley Williams* (1959-1962)

* deceased

MSO 2024.25 Administration

EXECUTIVE

Mark Niehaus, President & Executive Director, Michael and Jeanne Schmitz Chair

Bret Dorhout, Vice President of Artistic Planning

Tom Lindow, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Monica K. Meyer, Vice President of Advancement

Terrell Pierce, Vice President of Orchestra Operations

Kathryn Reinardy, Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Rick Snow, Vice President of Facilities & Building Operations

Marquita Edwards, Director of Community Engagement

Sean McNally, Executive Assistant & Board Liaison

ADVANCEMENT

Michael Rossetto, Senior Director of Advancement & Major Gifts

William Loder, Gift Officer

Kathryn Hausman, Individual Giving Manager, Research & Discovery

Julie Jahn, Campaign Manager

Tracy Migon, Development Systems Manager

Andrea Moreno-Islas, Advancement Manager

Mitch Nelles, Giving Manager, New Acquisition

Leah Peavler, Institutional Giving Manager

Emma Zei, Annual Fund Manager

EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Rebecca Whitney, Director of Education

Courtney Buvid, ACE & Education Manager

Nathan Hickox-Young, Concerts for Schools & Education Manager

FINANCE

Cathy O’Loughlin, Controller

Jenny Beier, Senior Accountant

Arianis Hernandez, Accounting Coordinator

Cynthia Moore, Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion Manager

MARKETING

Lizzy Cichowski, Director of Marketing

Erin Kogler, Director of Communications

Adam Cohen, Patron Systems Manager

Katelyn Farebrother, Marketing Coordinator

David Jensen, Communications Coordinator

Zachary-John Reinardy, Lead Designer

Kerry Tomaszewski, Communications Manager

BOX OFFICE

Luther Gray, Director of Ticket Operations & Group Sales

Al Bartosik, Box Office Manager

Marie Holtyn, Box Office Supervisor

Adam Klarner, Patron Services Coordinator

OPERATIONS

Sean Goldman, Director of Operations

Antonio Padilla Denis, Director of Orchestra Personnel

Kayla Aftahi, Operations Coordinator

Paul Beck, Principal Librarian, James E. Van Ess Principal Librarian Chair

Maiken Demet, Assistant to the Music Director

Albrecht Gaub, Artistic Coordinator

Matthew Geise, Assistant Librarian & Media Archivist

Emily Wacker Schultz, Artistic Associate

Lisa Sottile, Production Stage Manager

Tristan Wallace, Production Manager/Live Audio, MSO | Technical Director, BSC

Christina Williams, Chorus Manager

FACILITIES & EVENT SERVICES

Patrick G. H. Schley, Director of Event Services

Donovan Burton, Facilities Manager - 2nd Shift

Travis Byrd, Facilities Manager

Sam Hushek, Events & Volunteer Manager

Lisa Klimczak, House Manager

David Kotlewski, House Manager

Zed Waeltz, Senior House Manager

RESONANCE FOOD CO.

David Zakroczymski, Director of Operations

Josh Langenohl, Senior Operations Manager

Ben Bartlett, Sous Chef

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