Alexander Shelley to step down as NAC Orchestra music director

Music Director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra Alexander Shelley looks on during the unveiling of upgrades to the NAC's Southam Hall in Ottawa on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Alexander Shelley is preparing to say goodbye to the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

The NAC announced Wednesday evening Shelley will end his tenure as music director of the NAC Orchestra in July 2026 after 11 seasons.

“To have served the National Arts Centre and Canadian music has been the privilege of a lifetime,” Shelley said in a statement released by the NAC.

“Working with innumerable Canadian artists through extraordinarily challenging times has enriched me more than I can express.”

The head of the National Arts Centre says Shelley “propelled the NAC Orchestra to new heights.”

“He instinctively understood the importance of the Orchestra’s national role and fully embraced it, giving Canadian creativity a platform to shine,” Christopher Deacon, NAC president and CEO, said in a statement. “He has left an indelible mark on the NAC Orchestra and the many artists he has inspired during his time as Music Director. We will miss him dearly.”

Shelley became the youngest music director of the NAC Orchestra when he assumed the role at the age of 35 in September 2015. Shelley says his two sons were born in Ottawa and his family is proud of a “decade of unforgettable cultural and musical adventures.”

“A part of our spirit will always remain here,” Shelley said. “And as for the remarkable NAC Orchestra: I began my tenure as their greatest fan and leave them with my love and admiration only deepened, profoundly so.”

Shelley and the NAC Orchestra have commissioned more than 50 new works from Canadian composers, and he led the orchestra on major tours including the Canada 150 Tour in 2017 and the 50th anniversary European Tour in 2019. He debuted at Carnegie Hall in 2022 with the NAC Orchestra in its return to New York City.

Shelley’s final performance will be in the NAC’s Southam Hall in July 2026.

In November, the Pacific Symphony in Costa Mesa, California announced Shelley will become the new music director for the 2026-27 season. In 2023, he was named artistic and music director at Artis – Naples in Florida, leading the Naples Philharmonic.