Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Rings in the Holiday Season

Milwaukee, Wis. (November 17, 2025) — The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s (MSO) annual holiday lineup is bigger, brighter, and more festive than ever. Throughout November and December, the Bradley Symphony Center will come alive with beloved seasonal favorites and timeless classics.

The holiday season begins with Handel’s Messiah, one of the most revered oratorios of all time, conducted by renowned 18th-century specialist Nicholas McGegan. The performances will feature the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and four distinguished soloists.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, audiences can enjoy Home Alone 2: Lost in New York in Concert, as the MSO performs John Williams’s celebrated score live alongside a screening of the holiday film.

Local jazz ensemble The Commercialists return to Allen-Bradley Hall to perform the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas — a nostalgic, joy-filled tribute to a beloved holiday tradition.

The season concludes with the MSO’s Hometown Holiday Pops, led by Associate Conductor Ryan Tani, and featuring the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, the Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble, and soprano LaKisha Jones.

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concerts 2025

All performances take place in Allen-Bradley Hall at the Bradley Symphony Center
212 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203
Box Office: 414-291-7605 | Online: www.mso.org

HANDEL’S MESSIAH
Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Sat, Nov 22, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Sun, Nov 23, 2025 at 2:30 pm

Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Sherazade Panthaki, soprano
Key’mon Murrah, countertenor
Thomas Cooley, tenor
Enrico Lagasca, bass-baritone
Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, Cheryl Frazes Hill, director

Handel’s Messiah—one of the most revered oratorios of all time—shines under the direction of acclaimed conductor and 18th-century specialist Nicholas McGegan. Praised by The New York Times for conveying “the vital spark of Handel’s music,” McGegan leads the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus in a performance that also marks the ensemble’s 50th anniversary season.

NICHOLAS McGEGAN, CONDUCTOR

In his sixth decade on the podium, Nicholas McGegan is celebrated worldwide as “one of the finest baroque conductors of his generation” (The Independent). Following 34 years as music director of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale, he now serves as music director emeritus and principal guest conductor of Hungary’s Capella Savaria.

A leading interpreter of Handel and Mozart, McGegan has conducted major orchestras including the New York, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong philharmonics, and the Chicago, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee symphonies. His 2025–26 season features a Messiah tour, appearances with Philharmonia Baroque, and educational residencies at Yale, Juilliard, and Indiana University.

McGegan’s discography of more than 100 recordings—over 50 devoted to Handel—has earned Gramophone Awards and GRAMMY nominations. Educated at Cambridge and Oxford, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire and is widely admired for his joyful, engaging approach to music-making. To read McGegan’s full biography, visit nicholasmcgegan.com.

SHEREZADE PANTHAKI, SOPRANO

Internationally acclaimed soprano Sherezade Panthaki is celebrated for her luminous tone and eloquent interpretations of early music and oratorio. She has performed with leading ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Bach Collegium Japan. Born in India, Panthaki is a founding member of the Kaleidoscope Vocal Ensemble and directs the vocal program at Mount Holyoke College. Her artistry combines technical brilliance with a deep commitment to education, collaboration, and cultural connection.

KEY’MON MURRAH, COUNTERTENOR

Countertenor Key’mon Murrah, praised by Opera News for his “resplendent, voluptuous tone,” is recognized internationally for his artistry across Baroque and contemporary repertoire. He has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Detroit Opera, among others. A 2021 Operalia finalist and Grand Prize winner of the Premiere Opera Foundation Competition, Murrah continues to expand the reach of the countertenor voice worldwide. His 2025–26 season includes performances with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and major European opera houses.

THOMAS COOLEY, TENOR

Tenor Thomas Cooley is renowned for his expressive artistry and acclaimed performances of Bach and Handel. He has appeared with major orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Handel and Haydn Society, and has performed in leading venues from Carnegie Hall to the Berlin Philharmonie. Cooley’s extensive discography spans over 20 recordings on top international labels. He currently serves as visiting associate professor of voice and historical performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

ENRICO LAGASCA, BASS-BARITONE

Filipino-American bass-baritone Enrico Lagasca is acclaimed for his warm, expressive voice and commanding stage presence. He has performed with the San Francisco, Baltimore, and Toronto symphonies, at Bachfest Leipzig, and with Bach Collegium San Diego and Trinity Church Wall Street. Featured on five GRAMMY-nominated recordings, Lagasca’s performances are praised for their emotional depth and musical precision. His 2025–26 season includes debuts with the Nashville and Milwaukee symphony orchestras and a return to the operatic stage in L’Orfeo with Ars Lyrica Houston.

HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK IN CONCERT
Fri, Nov 28, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Sat, Nov 29, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Sun, Nov 30, 2025 at 2:30 pm

Ryan Tani, conductor

Experience Kevin McCallister’s (Macaulay Culkin) outlandish holiday adventures in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, as he outsmarts the bumbling Wet Bandits (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) with clever traps. John Williams’s iconic score comes to life with a full live orchestra, capturing both the playful and dramatic moments of Kevin’s escapades. This beloved classic, paired with vibrant orchestral performance, offers a hilarious and heartwarming holiday experience for the whole family.

THE COMMERCIALISTS: A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS
Fri, Dec 5, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Fri, Dec 5, 2025 at 9:00 pm

Anthony Deutsch, piano
Patrick Morrow, drums
Clay Schaub, bass
Faith Hatch, vocalist

Local favorites The Commercialists return to the Bradley Symphony Center for their annual holiday tradition, performing Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas live. Audiences can enjoy an up-close experience sitting onstage, complete with bar service and one included drink, while jazz vocalist Faith Hatch ushers in the season with her festive vocal stylings. This lively, intimate performance offers a joyful start to the holidays.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra will not perform at this event.

HOMETOWN HOLIDAY POPS
Sat, Dec 13, 2025 at 2:30 pm
Sat, Dec 13, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Sun, Dec 14, 2025 at 2:30 pm
Fri, Dec 19, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Sat, Dec 20, 2025 at 2:30 pm
Sat, Dec 20, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Sun, Dec 21, 2025 at 2:30 pm

Ryan Tani, conductor
LaKisha Jones, soprano
Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble, Jana Larson, artistic director
Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, Cheryl Frazes HIll, director

Milwaukee’s beloved holiday tradition returns! The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra fills Allen-Bradley Hall with festive cheer, featuring soprano LaKisha Jones, the Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble, the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, and an audience sing-along. Keep an eye out for the Jolly Old Elf himself as families join together to celebrate the season with music, joy, and cherished holiday memories. This lively, heartwarming performance offers a festive celebration for audiences of all ages.

RYAN TANI, ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR

Now in his third season with the MSO and his first as associate conductor, Ryan Tani is known 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. He has also served as cover conductor for the Minnesota Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony, and more.

A champion of new music, Tani was music director of Baltimore’s Occasional Symphony, commissioning more than 20 works, and has led ensembles across Montana while developing outreach and educational programs. He holds degrees from Yale, Peabody, and USC, and studied with Marin Alsop, Peter Oundjian, and others.

LAKISHA JONES, VOCALS

Best known as a top-four finalist on American Idol (2007), LaKisha Jones has built a dynamic career in music, theater, and television. She released the album So Glad I’m Me, featuring R&B, soul, and gospel tracks including Diane Warren’s “Same Song.” Jones made her Broadway debut in The Color Purple, sharing the role of Sophia with Chaka Khan. A sought-after soloist with orchestras worldwide, she has performed with the National Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, and many others, bringing her powerful voice and expressive artistry to audiences across the globe.

MILWAUKEE HANDBELL ENSEMBLE

The Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble, directed by Jana Larson, is an auditioned community group of 14 ringers performing on 73 handbells and 73 hand chimes. Over 23 years, the MHE has become known for memorized performances, new arrangements, and collaborations with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, and local ensembles. Touring nationally and regionally, the group educates and inspires audiences while advancing handbell artistry. The MHE has released two recordings, An American Sampler and An MHE Christmas Celebration, and continues to serve as a musical resource for the Milwaukee area and beyond.

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. Hernández, 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.