Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra confirms resignations of two board members after separate personal scandals surfaced
Resignations confirmed after questions about board members’ outside conduct
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra has accepted the resignations of two members of its board of directors following separate personal controversies involving each man, the organization confirmed in a statement released Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. The symphony said the matters were unrelated to the organization or the men’s board service and thanked them for their contributions.
The resignations involve Eric E. Hobbs and Peter Mahler, both of whom had been listed among the symphony’s directors. In early February, both names were still visible on the symphony’s board roster; they were later removed from the listing.
One resignation follows criminal charges filed in Green Lake County
Hobbs resigned after it became public that prosecutors in Green Lake County charged him last year with sexual assault. In the criminal case, prosecutors allege inappropriate touching involving teenage girls across multiple years—2019, 2021 and 2023.
Hobbs has denied the allegations through his attorney, who said he intends to contest the charges and seek to clear his name. No information released by the symphony connected the case to symphony activities, and the organization’s statement characterized the matter as separate from its work.
The other resignation tied to disclosed work for Jeffrey Epstein in 2013
Mahler resigned following reporting that records commonly referred to as the “Epstein files” list him as having worked as a recruiter for Jeffrey Epstein in 2013, when Epstein was seeking an assistant. Mahler said the allegations against Epstein are “abhorrent” and said that, with what is known now, he would not have worked with him.
Epstein died in 2019 while in federal custody in New York, after being charged with sex trafficking. The newly surfaced records have continued to generate scrutiny of people and institutions with documented connections to Epstein’s network, even when no criminal allegations are made against those individuals.
What the resignations mean for governance and public trust
The symphony’s board is responsible for nonprofit oversight, including governance, fundraising support and strategic direction. The board has included civic and business leaders as well as designated directors and musician directors. With two resignations, the organization now faces practical questions about continuity and reputational management as it continues programming and community engagement.
Board succession: nonprofit boards typically address vacancies through appointments and committee transitions.
Risk and accountability: organizations often review governance policies when high-profile controversies arise, even when issues are unrelated to board service.
Community confidence: arts institutions rely on donors, audiences and public partners, making transparency around governance changes an operational concern.
“The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra has accepted the resignations of Mr. Hobbs and Mr. Mahler. These matters are unrelated to the MSO or their board service.”
The symphony did not announce replacement appointments alongside the resignations.