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  • “Great venue and great MSO concert! Thank you for a fab evening”

  • “A fabulous performance and superb selection of pieces. An outstanding experience and one I deserved after spending almost all day blowing and shoveling snow. I can’t praise this concert highly enough.”

  • “The show was especially enjoyable because they added the ballet to it. It’s nice when the symphony and LWE add a new dimension to the concerts.”

  • “Loved the concert. It was among the best ever!”

  • “It was wonderful to see the Symphony in combination with the Ballet and the young people involved.”

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Audience Choice is Live! Tell us what you want to hear!

Audience choice

Upcoming events

  • Now through Oct 3: 2026-27 Season Tickets on sale. info.
  • Wed, Sep 23: Back yard BBQ at Bill’s with Live Music by The Works! info
  • Sat, Oct 3: Our season begins with GOLD:Metropolis Live-to-film! info/tickets
  • Sun, Dec 18: Dylan Chmura-Moore talks about the upcoming concert. Be My Guest. Live at 9:30am Listen to the recorded podcast here.

view past events

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What you’ll hear this season

Check out Music Director Dylan’s Spotify playlist

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MSO announces new Executive Director

Read press release

What to expect at our concerts

Learn more

Listen to our concert radio ad, sponsored by Seehafer Broadcasting.

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Music Director Dylan Chmura-Moore’s curated playlist. A taste of the music performed at our concerts!

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  • “Run don’t walk”
    We were impressed by the variety, quality and excellence of their musical performances and of the sensational venue of the Capitol Civic Center theater. We quickly became season ticket holders and passed along our enthusiasm to our friends and family who have also now joined us in this rewarding adventure. To anyone who is considering joining these great performances, please run, don’t walk to the box office now to become members of this great organization.

    James Day & Josef Cibulka
  • “Very impressed”
    I attended the MSO on April 13th, 2024, and was very impressed with the performance. I am a huge fan of Rachmaninoff and totally loved the performance. 
    The Beethoven Egmont Overture was a new experience for me and Dylan’s explanation of the music was very informative. The Brahms’ Symphony was also delightful. I am a season ticket holder at the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and support the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra whenever possible. Wisconsin is very blessed to have 2 great Orchestras to choose from and enjoy!

    Jane Mendelblatt, Glendale, WI
  • “nothing but good experiences”

    I have had nothing but good experiences with the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra. I enjoy their song choices, as there is typically true classical classics mixed with modern works.

    I am also a fan of the instrumentation, and I like watching the sections each in relation to each other throughout the songs.

    The concept of themed concerts is also cool… it gets you into the “immersion” of it all, like the time there was Japanese ephemera in the foyer combined with performance pieces by a Japanese composer.
    Teak Prigge, age 19
  • “Be transported!”
    Our family is not your typical symphony family. However, what we love about the MSO concerts is being transported to the movies, TV shows, cartoons, or commercials—using our imagination to take us back to where we first heard these fantastic sounds. I encourage you to get tickets to be transported as well!
    a smiling woman with a plaid coat and brown shoulder length hair in front of trees
    Emily Howe, MSO Board Member and Supporter
  • “Extremely Rewarding!”
    I feel honored to have had the experience of performing with our symphony under the direction of its founder, Karl Miller, Wayne Wildman, and now Dylan Chmura-Moore! An orchestra cannot flourish without good conductors … and we’ve had the best! …it’s extremely rewarding for me, a retired MPSD orchestra teacher, to be able to perform side by side with former students!
    Joan Geraldson, Violinist
  • “Breathtaking”
    A breathtaking performance. Thank you for all the hard work to bring classical music to our community. The MSO is a jewel!!

    Laurie R.
  • “a vacation in music”
    MSO concerts provide a vacation in music and an escape to the middle of one’s soul.
    a smiling mature man with curly gray hair and a coral polo shirt
    Paul “Biff” Hansen
  • “Unique cultural opportunity”
    The Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra is a unique cultural opportunity that many do not get to experience in smaller communities like ours.  I’ve had the great fortune of being able to engage with Manitowoc’s musical history and support the orchestra we are so lucky to have.  The concerts, events, music and performers are one of a kind!
    smiling short brown haired woman wearing a suit
    Amy Townsend, MSO Co-President 2022-23
  • “forget about life and work and just enjoy!”
    The MSO restores my love for symphonic music and gives me two hours to forget about life and work, and just enjoy!
    Betsy Maliborski
  • “fabulous concert”
    What a fabulous concert last night…Who needs to ever go to Chicago for symphony! It’s all right here. We loved it.
    John and Bernie Zimmer
  • “Help support this wonderful organization”
    My dad, Karl Miller, brought my mom and me to Manitowoc …to fulfill his dream of starting a civic symphony orchestra. Now that I am back in Manitowoc, I am involved again as a patron. The MSO is a community gem. Please through attending concerts, volunteering, participating in its fundraisers, and making donations to the MSO, choose to help support this wonderful organization as It approaches its 70th birthday.
    Mark Barkley Miller
  • “I am continually astounded”
    I’ve attended a few hundred symphony concerts since college… many performed by over a dozen different major professional European and American orchestras. With that background, I am continually astounded that this city of only 35,000 can produce performances with this degree of quality and enthusiasm. We are happy to support the MSO financially as well, to help keep this great local cultural asset thriving.
    smiling mature man in burgundy shirt holds tiny smiling baby
    John & Laurale Stern
  • “What a jewel on the lakeshore”
    Coming to Manitowoc from the “big city” I was very surprised to find a symphony of the quality and depth of the MSO.  Watching Wayne “Wild”man with his flying hair as he conducted the orchestra was hypnotic. As the years passed, my admiration only grew.  Now that the baton has been passed to Dylan, I’m sure we will have many wonderful years filled with music and events.  What a jewel on the lakeshore!
    Karen Steingraber, Former Board Member and Supporter
  • “I count my membership in our MSO a true blessing”
    I love being 3rd Horn in our Manitowoc Symphony because of the warmth and camaraderie of all our musical family. The warmth and love of making beautiful music together is always an inspiration to me. I love making music in our newly renovated home which is always a joy and pleasure to make music in. I count my membership in our MSO a true blessing.
    Erwin E. Lackner, MSO 3rd Horn
  • “Our unique opportunity”
    The fact that we have live symphonic music in Manitowoc is our unique opportunity. Take advantage of these skilled musicians and listen to their story… invite a friend to accompany you to a concert. See if you can get seats up front. From this location, you can feel the power of the kettle drums. You can watch the violinists as they set their strings in motion. Sometimes, in the beam of the stage spotlights, you can see the rosin fly off the bow as the vibrating strings create a note.
    a mature man with glasses, a white beard and mustache poses near a radio station microphone
    John Jagemann
  • “rare and wonderful”
    The Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra is an absolute gem.  To find this much talent in such a small community is rare and wonderful.
    smiling blonde woman in a black jacket and white blouse
    Kelly Dvorak
  • “We are so proud of our symphony”
    We have been season ticket holders for the past 10 years. Attending the concerts has increased our understanding and appreciation for classical music and the musicianship necessary to create the beautiful concerts. We are so proud of our symphony that we often ask out of town friends to attend with us. These guests can’t believe that we have this level of quality music in our community. 
    Carole and Charles Starck
  • “…an incredible gift”
    The Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra is an incredible gift we give—not only to our community, for its pure entertainment and educational value—but also to ourselves, in an art form that enriches all of our lives with its ability to take us beyond ourselves. So… sit back and enjoy the music!”
    DJ Lucas
  • “elevating this community’s quality of life”
    I relocated… from Los Angeles specifically because of the richness and variety of performing arts offerings here, and for the beautiful venue which anchors live performance on the Lakeshore. This is not a typical community; we have treasures far beyond what is normal for our size. The Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra is very much one of these treasures— enriching all those who partake, as well as elevating this community’s quality of life.
    Matthew Schliesman, Former Executive Director, Capitol Civic Centre
  • “…our children gained an additional level of appreciation for music”
    Thank you for the many years of enjoyment you have provided to my family.  My wife and I were pleased that our children gained an additional level of appreciation for music via the MSO.  We’d like to thank the numerous volunteers along with the orchestra, for their effort and time given to the community.
    Jay Orvis
  • “We feel fortunate to be able to attend concerts … right here in our own community“
    The quality of performances is excellent with content varied. Their programs include pieces that appeal to a wide variety of audiences. We look forward to each new season.
    E. Jane Lohmeyer
  • “…a tremendous gift“
    The MSO is a tremendous gift to the Manitowoc/Two Rivers Lakeshore area.  Local musicians collaborate with other professionals to make beautiful music under the direction of Dylan Chmura-Moore.
    caucasian woman with dark brown hair and glasses wears a catholic sister veil, dress, blouse
    Sr. Carol Ann Gambsky
  • “We look forward to date nights in Manitowoc”
    A great dinner at one of the city’s many restaurants, a little shopping, and of course, the always-entertaining symphony concert at your beautiful CCC.
    The Paces
  • “creative, fresh and interesting”
    Our support for the Manitowoc Symphony is fueled by the creative, fresh and interesting music selections brought to each and every performance. We totally enjoy every concert we attend. The talent in the orchestra is outstanding. We are looking forward to this season.
    Linda Justema & Jim Konitzer, MSO supporters and and concert goers
  • “There’s nothing quite as moving as hearing a symphony in person”
    We have been supporters of the MSO for many years, going back to the late 1980’s when Karl Miller was the conductor. Our daughter was a violinist. There’s nothing quite as moving as hearing a symphony in person—the swell of the strings as they move into a phrase and the sounds of the horns and brass as they take the music to its crescendo. Our community is truly blessed to have such a wonderful cultural opportunity.
    Jim and Janet Garrett
  • “adds a different experience to my daily life”
    I love how the MSO adds a different experience to my daily life. The arts are so important to being well-rounded.  It is also a great experience hearing all the talent Manitowoc offers.
    Keegan Bartow
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Proud member of the following organizations:

Manitowoc Area Visitor & Convention Bureau lighthouse and wave logo with link
Association of Wisconsin Symphony Orchestras AWSO acronym logo and link
The Chamber Manitowoc County logo and link
The Capitol Civic Centre link
Our operations are supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.