Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra has appointed a new assistant conductor

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra has namd Ryan Tani as its new assistant conductor, the MSO announced in a statement Monday.

In the coming season, Tani will conduct about 60 concerts, including youth, family and community engagement programs, Pops concerts and films with live orchestra accompaniment. Tani also will be deeply involved in MSO's Arts in Community Education program.

He will back up music director Ken-David Masur and guest conductors, ready to step in if they are indisposed.

Tani earned his master's degree in musical arts from Yale University, where he spent two years as orchestral conducting fellow for the Yale Philharmonia. He is conductor of the Bozeman Symphonic Choir, and has served as cover conductor for the Colorado and Bozeman symphonies.

In the MSO statement, Masur called Tani an "engaging, thoughtful, and talented young conductor." Masur also said, "I’m certain that he will be able to communicate the joys of making music to many audiences in our community and look forward to having him be part of our MSO artistic team.”

Tani takes the spot vacated by Yaniv Dinur, who recently concluded eight seasons with the MSO as assistant and then resident conductor. In a natural progression for this post, Dinur left to grow his career.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra names Ryan Tani as assistant conductor