The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is honored to serve Milwaukee by creating opportunities for people of all kinds to connect through music. Community engagement is about more than the concerts we perform—it's about building relationships, creating welcoming experiences, and bringing the joy of live music into neighborhoods, schools, and gathering places throughout our community.

Whether you're attending your first performance, discovering the orchestra at a neighborhood festival, meeting our musicians in your school, or joining us around town, you're part of what makes our community vibrant. The MSO belongs to each of us, and we're committed to ensuring that everyone feels welcome here.

Bringing Music Beyond Allen Bradley Hall

Music doesn't only happen on stage. Throughout the year, the MSO participates in festivals, neighborhood events, schools, businesses, libraries, and community celebrations across southeastern Wisconsin. These experiences introduce new audiences to live orchestral music while strengthening relationships with the communities we serve.

Creating Welcoming Experiences

Every visit to the Bradley Symphony Center is an opportunity to connect.

From pre-concert talks and pop-up performances by local musicians to thoughtful partnerships that celebrate Milwaukee's creative community, we strive to offer experiences that feel welcoming, engaging, and memorable. These moments invite conversation, spark curiosity, and help every guest feel at home before the first note is played.

Learning, Discovery & Opportunity

We believe that music opens doors and builds bridges. Through educational partnerships, career exploration programs and performance opportunities for local musicians from all backgrounds, MSO programs help students, emerging artists, and lifelong learners discover new possibilities. Whether introducing young people to careers in the arts or providing a platform for local performers, we believe everyone deserves opportunities to connect with music in meaningful ways.

Community Partnerships

Community engagement is built through partnership. We collaborate with schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, neighborhood groups, artists, and civic leaders across Milwaukee. These relationships help us better understand the communities we serve and create programs that reflect the people, stories, and voices that make Milwaukee unique.

Our Community Advisory Council is one way we listen, learn, and build lasting relationships that strengthen both the orchestra and our community.

Community Engagement Throughout the Year

Each season, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra proudly offers opportunities that connect people through music, including:

• Community performances, festivals, cultural celebrations, and neighborhood events
• Milwaukee Musician Showcase
• Pre-concert and lobby talks & pop-up performances
• School partnerships and educational programs
• Career Day  - exploration opportunities for high school students
• Annual Sensory Friendly performances and initiatives
• Lullaby Project, in partnership with Carnegie Hall