Ken-David Masur is stepping down as the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s music director after seven years in the position. His tenure will conclude following the 2025-26 season, the MSO announced on Friday.
“It has been an immense joy and privilege to collaborate with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, an exceptional ensemble made of world-class musicians deeply committed to conveying the soul and spirit of the music,” Masur said in a news release. “I arrived at this orchestra with great anticipation shortly before the pandemic and am so proud of how we continued to dream together and work creatively to keep making music for the city through 2020.”
Masur’s hiring in 2019 came after a 36-month search to replace Edo de Waart, who had been music director for eight seasons before retiring at the end of 2016-17. Before joining the MSO, Masur was associate conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and principal guest conductor of the Munich Symphony. The announcement did not include any information regarding Masur’s plans after leaving the MSO.
“For years, people around the world and in the international music scene have taken note of this fantastic orchestra, and now all people of Milwaukee must know how exciting a time it is to be experiencing live music performed by our orchestra in one of the best concert halls in North America today,” Masur said. “I will leave with so much gratitude towards these musicians and those who have welcomed me and my family to this great city.”
Masur’s tenure was disrupted early by the COVID pandemic, which led to the orchestra’s first-ever virtual season and a delay of its move into the Bradley Symphony Center until January 2021.
Masur has worked to expand the orchestra’s repertoire and offerings. In his first six seasons with the orchestra, he will have overseen the introduction of more than 100 works to the orchestra, the majority of which he will have led from the podium and 33 of which are works by living composers.
“Throughout his tenure, Ken has been a thoughtful leader, crafting programs that have inspired and engaged Milwaukee audiences,” MSO Board Chairwoman Susan Martin said in a news release. “Ken has been a collaborative and creative partner to the board and the administration, from working closely with us during the pandemic, to engaging deeply in the orchestra’s efforts in fostering an inclusive experience for our community, as well as developing new programs that create opportunities for connections to a broad range of organizations in Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin.”
Martin also noted Masur’s passion for education programs, leading the return of the Teen Choral Partners and working directly with Wisconsin high school student choirs.
“Ken’s passion for our orchestra and the Milwaukee community has been evident since day one,” said MSO president and Executive Director Mark Niehaus in a news release. “It was unfortunate that his first season was cut short in 2019-20 when the global pandemic canceled concerts for months. However, Ken’s creativity and drive to pivot showed his commitment to Milwaukee, the music and the artistry of our orchestra. We were able to continue to deliver on our mission due to Ken’s leadership in that moment.”
The MSO’s upcoming 2024-25 season will include Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet and Respighi’s Pines of Rome, among many others. The MSO and the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, led by Masur, will perform Bach’s complete Christmas Oratorio parts one, two and three to kick off the holiday season in November.
The MSO will announce its 2025-2026 season in March 2025.
