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Alexander Shelley will bid farewell to the National Arts Centre Orchestra in 2026, ending an era that saw the British conductor invigorate the ensemble with international flair, innovative programming and a strong commitment to Canadian voices.
Shelley, who took the reins of the Ottawa-based orchestra in 2015 at the age of 35, announced he will step down as music director at the close of the 2025–26 season. His final concert is scheduled for July 2026, with his contract officially ending Aug. 31.
By the time he exits, Shelley will have led the orchestra for 11 seasons, becoming the longest-serving music director since founding conductor Mario Bernardi.
“I think it’s a really healthy period of time to be with an orchestra,” Shelley said in an interview, quoting a German saying: “Gehen, wenn es am schönsten ist”—“Go when it’s most beautiful.”
“That’s how I feel right now about the relationship with the orchestra,” he added. “We’re having such a great time together... The prospect of finishing my years as music director on the crest of a wave is really an exciting thing.”
Shelley’s final season in Ottawa won’t mark a slowdown. In fact, it’s part of a packed schedule that includes leading tours to Korea and Japan—marking the NAC Orchestra’s first-ever performances in Korea and its return to Japan after four decades.
After Ottawa, Shelley heads west—way west. He’s been named music director of the Pacific Symphony in California’s Orange County, where he’ll serve as music director designate during the 2025–26 season before fully taking over in 2026–27. He also continues his role as artistic and music director of Artis–Naples in Florida, which includes the Naples Philharmonic and the Baker Museum.
A London-born cellist and the son of two concert pianists, Shelley rose to prominence after winning the 2005 Leeds Conductors’ Competition. He went on to become the youngest chief conductor of Germany’s Nürnberger Symphoniker and has served as associate conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London.
During his tenure in Ottawa, Shelley championed Canadian composers, commissioning more than 50 new works and leading a cross-country tour for Canada’s sesquicentennial in 2017 that included a powerful piece based on a poem by a residential school survivor.
“He instinctively understood the importance of the orchestra's national role and fully embraced it, giving Canadian creativity a platform to shine,” said NAC president and CEO Christopher Deacon in a statement. “Alexander has left an indelible mark on the orchestra and on the artists he has inspired.”
Shelley also helped modernize the NAC experience, overseeing major renovations to Southam Hall in 2018 and guiding the orchestra through the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic with livestreams and digital content.
Alongside his musical achievements, Shelley built a life in Ottawa with his wife, Zoe. Their two sons, now aged six and three, were born in the city.
“A part of our spirit will always remain here,” Shelley said. “My wife Zoe and I could not be prouder of this fact or more grateful to this country... for over a decade of unforgettable cultural and musical adventures.”