Mission & History of the MSO

Our Mission:

The MSO reaches out to diverse audiences through concert performances and nationally recognized education and outreach programs. All programs are guided by the MSO Family Shared Vision which states that the MSO exists for three purposes: to comfort, educate, entertain and exhilarate the human soul through events of cultural significance, relevance and artistic challenge; to embrace, preserve and foster our musical heritage; and to enhance the vibrancy of our community.

About the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

Among the finest orchestras in the country, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is the largest cultural organization in Wisconsin. Since its inception in 1959, the orchestra has received critical acclaim for artistic excellence. The symphony’s 88 full-time professional musicians perform more than 140 concerts each season. A cornerstone organization in Milwaukee’s art community, the MSO provides enrichment and education activities for audiences of every age, economic status, and background.

The MSO is recognized as a pioneer in the world of new music among American orchestras. For 29 years, the symphony’s nationally syndicated radio broadcasts have ranked among the nation’s largest collections, and are heard on more than 240 stations throughout the United States each year. In 2005, the MSO became the first American orchestra to offer its live recordings for download directly through online music stores including iTunes. MSO Classics, an e-label created specifically for digital distribution of its recordings, has a continually growing catalog of more than 30 live works including a world premiere work by Roberto Sierra that was recorded just three weeks prior to its availability on iTunes. In December 2006, the MSO launched its own online store to sell digital recordings offering greater flexibility in pricing, scheduling, and formatting than other electronic media stores. Online distribution gives worldwide access to performances that have never been made available commercially.

The MSO’s standard of excellence extends beyond the concert hall and into the community, reaching more than 40,000 children and their families through its ACE (Arts in Community Education) program, Youth and Teen concerts, Kinderkonzerts, Music for Me concerts, and Behind the Notes pre-concert talks. In its 20th year, the nationally recognized ACE program integrates arts education into state-required curricula, providing arts opportunities for students when budget cuts are eliminating music and arts programming. Classrooms receive three visits per year by ensembles of MSO musicians and artists from local arts organizations as well as lesson plans and supporting materials. In addition, ACE students attend MSO concerts tailored to each grade level. This season, 8,000 students and 600 teachers in 22 Southeastern Wisconsin elementary and middle schools will participate in ACE.