Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and conductor Ken-David Masur agree on contract extension
Jim Higgins
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and music director Ken-David Masur have agreed on a contract extension through the 2025-'26 season, the MSO announced Thursday.
It's a two-year extension for the MSO's chief conductor. His reign as artistic leader began with the 2019-'20 season. After the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted concerts during Masur's first year, his initial four-year contract was extended through 2023-'24.
"Ken’s commitment to the MSO is crucial to building on the stability of the organization, which includes a new collaborative bargaining agreement with our musicians, a new concertmaster and a new assistant conductor," said MSO president and executive director Mark Niehaus in a statement released by the orchestra.
"His support for our musicians, especially during the challenging times of the pandemic, was remarkable," said principal percussionist Rob Klieger, chairman of the MSO musicians committee. "From organizing porch concerts at his home to launching a podcast featuring MSO recordings, Ken has been instrumental in keeping our music alive in Milwaukee."
In addition to helping the symphony weather the pandemic disruptions, Masur orchestrated the MSO's move into its new concert venue, the Bradley Symphony Center on West Wisconsin Avenue. He has cultivated artistic partnerships with pianist Aaron Diehl and vocalist Dashon Burton. And Masur has appointed 19 new MSO musicians, playing a key role this season in hiring new concertmaster Jinwoo Lee.
Masur has also made it a point to not only lead Classics series programs, but to conduct some Pops and other kinds of concerts as well. Enthusiastic about choral music, he conducts "Messiah" concerts and is active in the MSO's teen choral program.
Masur, 46, was born in Leipzig, Germany, where his father, famed conductor Kurt Mazur, was music director. His mother is soprano Tomoko Sakurai. In a past interview, he noted that he is often described as "a German-born American conductor of Japanese descent." Depending on where he happens to be in the world on a given day, the order of importance of those labels gets switched around, he said.
Masur is also principal conductor of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, a training program for young professional musicians that's affiliated with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Before coming to Milwaukee, Masur was associate conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where he enjoyed a musical friendship with composer John Williams, and principal guest conductor of the Munich Symphony. He also has conducted in Japan, Korea and Hong Kong as well as in Russia, Poland and France.
“It gives me great joy to continue the artistic partnership with the wonderful musicians of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra,” Masur said in the MSO's statement announcing the contract extension.
"We’ve rediscovered together how music is the source for renewed purpose during extraordinary and especially challenging times."