President and executive director
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra | Milwaukee
Mark Niehaus has led the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since 2012. The largest cultural institution in Wisconsin, the MSO employs 83 full-time professional musicians, who perform more than 130 classics, pops, family, education and community concerts each season. The orchestra generates an estimated $44 million in economic activity each year.
Under his leadership, the MSO completed a years-long project in 2021 to restore and renovate the Warner Grand Theatre in downtown Milwaukee to become the Bradley Symphony Center. The $89 million project has catalyzed further development on West Wisconsin Avenue.
MSO serves 30,000 children and their families through its Arts in Community Education program, youth and teen concerts, family series and Meet the Music pre-concert talks. The ACE program provides arts education amid budget cuts that have eliminated programming in schools.
Niehaus previously was principal trumpet of MSO from 1998 until his appointment as president and executive director. He started his career at age 18 while a freshman at The Juilliard School as he played principal trumpet for the New Haven Symphony.
Education: Bachelor’s, The Juilliard School
