Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Presents A Simply Swingin’ Valentine

MILWAUKEE, WI (Feb. 9, 2026) – The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra invites audiences to celebrate Valentine’s weekend with A Simply Swingin’ Valentine, February 13–15, led by Associate Conductor Ryan Tani and featuring acclaimed vocalist Steve Lippia. Blending the golden age of swing with symphonic flair, the concert offers an elegant evening of timeless standards.

Lippia joins the MSO for favorites including “My Funny Valentine,” “The Best Is Yet to Come,” and “Beyond the Sea,” with classics like “Strangers in the Night” and “New York, New York” completing the lineup. Popularized by legends such as Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett, these songs showcase the enduring style and sophistication of the Great American Songbook.

Allen-Bradley Hall, Bradley Symphony Center

Friday, February 13, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 14, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 15, 2026 | 2:30 p.m.

Tickets: Available now at mso.org or by calling 414-291-7605.

Ryan Tani, conductor

Now in his third season with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and his first as associate conductor, Ryan Tani is recognized for inventive programming and dynamic audience engagement. At the MSO, he conducts education, family, pops, and classics concerts, including stepping in for Edo de Waart and leading sold-out performances.

Tani has served as cover conductor for the Minnesota Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony, and others. A champion of new music, he was music director of Baltimore’s Occasional Symphony, commissioning more than 20 works, and has led ensembles across Montana while developing outreach and educational initiatives. He holds degrees from Yale, Peabody, and USC and studied with Marin Alsop and Peter Oundjian.

Steve Lippia, vocalist

Steve Lippia has become one of the nation’s most prominent and in-demand vocalists, establishing his place among the finest interpreters of standards and traditional pop music. His youthful, energetic style blends “classic” with “today,” introducing a new generation to timeless repertoire while delighting longtime listeners.

He began his career headlining extended engagements at the Rio Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, where standing-room-only audiences lined up hours before showtime. Lippia has since performed with more than 150 symphony orchestras across North America and headlined at New York City’s legendary Birdland Jazz Club alongside the Nelson Riddle and Woody Herman Orchestras.

His television appearances include EXTRA, FOX’s Good Day New York, CNN’s Showbiz Today, ABC, and the BBC. Whether live or recorded, Lippia transports audiences back to the golden age of Sinatra cool and the Great American Songbook.

About the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

Led by Music Director Ken-David Masur, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is Wisconsin’s largest cultural institution and one of the nation’s leading orchestras. Since its founding in 1959, the MSO has performed more than 130 concerts annually, including classics, pops, family, education, and community programs throughout the state. The orchestra has premiered works by composers such as John Adams, Philip Glass, J.E. Hern?ndez, Roberto Sierra, Marc Neikrug, Matthias Pintscher, and Dobrinka Tabakova, earning national recognition for artistic innovation. The MSO was also the first American orchestra to offer live recordings on iTunes.

In 2021, the MSO completed the restoration of a historic downtown movie palace, opening the Bradley Symphony Center. The venue has become a vibrant hub for music and community engagement, sparking renewal along West Wisconsin Avenue and serving as a catalyst for cultural activity in Milwaukee.

The MSO’s commitment to education and outreach reaches tens of thousands of students annually. Its nationally recognized Arts in Community Education (ACE) program, now in its 36th year, integrates music across subjects and provides vital opportunities in schools where arts programming may be limited. ACE offers lesson plans, classroom visits by MSO ensembles, and concerts tailored to each grade level. Along with Youth and Teen concerts, Family Series, and Meet the Music pre-concert talks, these programs provide students and families with meaningful, transformative experiences in music.

Through its artistic excellence, innovative programming, and community engagement, the MSO continues to inspire new audiences, nurture the next generation of musicians, and strengthen Milwaukee’s reputation as a vibrant center for music and the arts.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.