Wisconsin’s Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Hires New Assistant Conductor

American conductor Ryan Tani will assume the role, assisting the orchestra’s music director Ken-David Masur

As Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s (MSO) new assistant conductor, Ryan Tani will be assisting MSO music director Ken-David Masur.

Tani will lead the MSO’s youth, family, and community engagement concerts throughout the season, as well as Pops Series events and film with orchestra performances.

Additionally, he will take part in MSO’s outreach programs, giving pre-concert lectures and in-school presentations.

He recently completed a two-year tenure as the orchestral conducting fellow for the Yale Philharmonia under music director Peter Oundjian, where he won the 2021 Dean’s Prize for artistic excellence in his graduating class. 

Currently serving as conductor of the Bozeman Symphonic Choir, Tani often performs as a cover conductor for the Colorado and Bozeman symphonies. For four years, Tani was also music director of Baltimore’s Occasional Symphony, where he curated over 20 commissions from Baltimore-based composers.

As resident conductor of the New Music New Haven series, he has worked with Aaron Jay Kernis and Yale University composition students and faculty. As a teacher, he serves on the faculty at the Montana State University School of Music.

A Peabody Institute and a University of Southern California graduate, his conducting mentors included Marin Alsop, Markand Thakar, Larry Rachleff, Donald Schleicher, and Gerard Schwarz. He is also a violinist and studied voice with Gary Glaze. 

“The opportunity to make music with this stellar orchestra, work closely with [Masur], and collaborate with this wonderful artistic team is a dream come true,” said Tani. “I am thrilled to get to know the orchestra, the organization, and the community as I take on my new role.”

“We are very pleased to appoint Ryan,” Masur added. “He is an engaging, thoughtful, and talented young conductor who is passionate about music on and off the podium,” he continued. “I’m certain that he will be able to communicate the joys of making music to many audiences in our community and look forward to having him be part of our MSO artistic team.”

Formed in 1959, the MSO comprises 72 full-time professional musicians, who perform over 135 classics, pops, family, education, and community concerts each season. Its nationally syndicated radio broadcast series is heard annually by over two million listeners.