Finally, some good news on the orchestral administrative front.

The Milwaukee Symphony offered up a one-two punch with their press release today, announcing not only a balanced budget but also the appointment of Principal Trumpet Mark Niehaus as the MSO’s new President and Executive Director.  According to the MSO:

“As the principal trumpet of the MSO since 1998, Chairman of the Orchestra’s Players’ Council and active member of the MSO board, Niehaus brings knowledge of the industry, familiarity with MSO sponsors, ticketholders and community and a strong understanding of the organization’s long range plan.”

Not surprisingly, Mr. Neihaus will be stepping down from his orchestra chair — he is no longer listed as Principal Trumpet on the MSO’s online roster but is listed with his new title on the Board of Directors.

The orchestra has been garnering kudos under Music Director Edo de Waart, and a well received appearance at Carnegie Hall as part of “Spring for Music” certainly buoyed its reputation too.  This undoubtably has helped to spur growth in donations:  the MSO’s received the highest amount of contributed revenue raised for operations in the history of the orchestra — $12.0 million — in the 2012 Fiscal Year, not to mention adding 1,210 new donors.

Given all the bad news of fiscal woes and management-labor strife with orchestras in Indianapolis, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Philadelphia, and Detroit (among many others), this is certainly welcome news, not just for Wisconsin, but for the entire classical music community nationwide.

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Photo credit:   Todd Dacquisto photo courtesy of the MSO