Mikko Rankin Utevsky

Mikko Rankin Utevsky

Madison native Mikko Rankin Utevsky has been Artistic Director of the Choral Arts Society since 2017. He was the co-artistic director of the Madison Area Youth Chamber Orchestra and was assistant conductor of the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, where he performed as associate principal viola. He directed the Oakwood Resident Chorus at Oakwood Village – University Woods. He served for five years as music director of The Studio Orchestra, a Madison-area community ensemble that performs at nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout Dane County.

As a guest conductor, he worked with student ensembles at the UW-Madison (the University Symphony Orchestra and All-University String Orchestra, and various chamber groups), Madison East High School, and Eagle School.

A graduate of the UW-Madison School of Music, he performed in numerous ensembles (including as co-principal viola in the Symphony, Chamber, and Opera orchestras) and in multiple roles with the University Opera. While a student, he co-founded Impresario Student Opera and led its debut performance of Mozart’s “Der Schauspieldirektor.”

Utevsky also maintains a private teaching studio, is active as a musicologist and a program annotator, and sang with the Madison Symphony Chorus. He has studied conducting with Kenneth Kiesler, Markand Thakar, Beverly Taylor, and James Smith.