Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra - Music Directors

Music Directors

Harry John Brown became the MSO's first music director in 1959 and, during his nine-year tenure, led the orchestra's transition from a semi-professional pops group to a fully professional symphony. Since then it has been led by Kenneth Schermerhorn, Lukas Foss, Zdenek Macal, and Andreas Delfs was the director in 2009, until he stepped down from this position in to became the MSO's conductor laureate. Delfs' successor is former San Francisco Symphony and Minnesota Orchestra music director and Hong Kong Philharmonic chief conductor and artistic director Edo de Waart. Maestro de Waart was named to the position on January 3, 2008. Marvin Hamlisch was the MSO's principal Pops conductor. He was named to the post on November 16, 2007, replacing Doc Severinsen, who holds the title of principal Pops conductor emeritus. Hamlisch died on August 6, 2012, and the principal Pops conductor post is currently vacant. Francesco Lecce-Chong became the MSO's resident conductor in 2011.

List of past Directors

• Harry John Brown (1959–1968)
• Kenneth Schermerhorn (1968–1980)
• Lukas Foss (1981–1986)
• Zdeněk Mácal (1986–1995)
• Andreas Delfs (1997–2009)
• Edo de Waart (2009–present)