MYSO Presents Founders Concert With Soloist Mark Niehaus Today

Today, January 20, 2013, 2:00 p.m., Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra's Senior Symphony presents Mark Niehausas soloist at its annual Founders Concert, a gala performance featuring the organization's internationally acclaimed flagship ensemble, the Senior Symphony. Under Music Director Margery Deutsch and Associate Conductor Shelby Keith Dixon, the group will perform in Helen Bader Concert Hall, at UWM's Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, 2419 East Kenwood Blvd., Milwaukee. MYSO will also pay tribute to the visionaries who formed and shaped MYSO in its infancy upon which its 57 years of musical excellence is built.

With 135 of southeastern Wisconsin's finest young musicians, the Senior Symphony will feature Mr. Niehaus performing Alexander Arutunian's Concerto for Trumpet in A-flat major. The orchestra will also perform Mussorgsky's A Night on Bald Mountain conducted by Mr. Dixon. Ms. Deutsch and the orchestra complete the program with a performance of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 in D minor.

Trumpeter Mark Niehaus was appointed president and executive director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra beginning in the 2012-13 season. 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.

Mr. Niehaus began his professional career at the age of 18, still a freshman at The Juilliard School, when he assumed the post of principal trumpet of the New Haven Symphony. He remained with that orchestra for six years, while continuing his studies at Juilliard with Mark Gould and Raymond Mase. Upon graduation, he joined the faculty of The Juilliard School's Pre-College division and was active in the Music Advancement Program. His studio was featured in a report on CBS' 60 Minutes.

Mr. Niehaus spent 12 summers at the Eastern Music Festival as principal trumpet of the faculty orchestra and spent summers at the Tanglewood Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, Pacific Music Festival, Spoleto USA and Colorado Music Festival. From 2006-2009, he was a member of The National Brass Virtuosi, a group comprised of principal players from the Cleveland, Houston and Milwaukee symphonies. In 2011, he was a featured lecturer and recitalist at the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Minneapolis. He also moderated and adjudicated the final rounds of the Orchestral and Solo competitions.

Before moving to Milwaukee, Mr. Niehaus spent three seasons as a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida with Artistic Director Michael Tilson Thomas. He may be heard on two RCA label recordings with the New World Symphony and Tilson Thomas: The Music of Villa Lobos and New World Jazz, on which he is a featured soloist. He returns to Miami regularly to teach and coach new generations of New World musicians. He has also served on the faculties of the North Carolina School of the Arts and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

In Milwaukee, Mr. Niehaus has been a featured soloist on several occasions, performing the Haydn Trumpet Concerto, Bach Cantata No. 51 and the Martin Concerto for Seven Winds. In the 2011-12 season, he performed the Arutunian Concerto and Bach's Second Brandenburg Concerto. In the 2012-13 season, he will be featured in the Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1 in C for piano and trumpet.

Mr. Niehaus recently completed a special recording project with the G. Schirmer Instrumental Library, The Trumpet Collection. Published in three Volumes by Hal Leonard, it includes over 30 works and features Companion recordings by Mr. Niehaus. The project presents a wide Spectrum of trumpet literature appropriate for recitals and is available from major music retailers nationwide.

Mr. Niehaus lives in Milwaukee with his wife and two sons and maintains an active teaching studio. He is proud to be the Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 398 and serves on the District Committee for the Milwaukee Boy Scout Council.

Tickets to MYSO's concert are $16.50 for adults and $11.50 for students and senior citizens (age 60 & up) (includes Zelazo Center processing fee) and are available at the Zelazo Center Box Office. For more information please emailmichellehoffman@myso.org or call 414-267-2947. For advance tickets, call the MYSO office at 414-267-2958.

Please visit their website at www.myso.org.