Alexander Shelley is Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (since 2015).
One of the foremost conductors of his generation, Alexander Shelley is 'a natural communicator, both on and off the podium' (The Daily Telegraph). A passionate and articulate advocate for the role of music in society, he has spearheaded multiple ground-breaking projects, unlocking creativity in the next generation and bringing symphonic music to new audiences.
With a conducting technique described as 'immaculate, everything crystal clear' (Yorkshire Post), Alexander is known for the integrity of his interpretations and for his creative programming, having led over 50 major world premieres, highly praised symphonic cycles, operas, ballets and multimedia productions.
He appears regularly across six continents with the world’s finest orchestras, including Leipzig’s Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Helsinki, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Malaysian, Oslo, Rotterdam and Stockholm Philharmonic orchestras, and the São Paulo, Houston, Seattle, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Montreal, Toronto, Munich, Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand Symphony orchestras.
The 2025–26 Season marks Alexander's 11th and final as Music Director of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO). In 2024, he was named the third Music Director of the Pacific Symphony, beginning in the 2026–27 Season; he serves as Music Director Designate this season. Since the 2024–25 Season, he has been the Artistic and Music Director of Artis−Naples, in Florida, where he provides artistic leadership for the Naples Philharmonic. He also serves as Principal Associate Conductor of London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Alexander’s operatic engagements have included productions with the Royal Danish Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, and Opéra National de Montpellier. His eight-year tenure as Chief Conductor of the Nürnberger Symphoniker, which concluded in 2017, was hailed as a golden era for the orchestra.
Born in London to concert pianists, Alexander studied cello and conducting in Germany. When he won First Prize at the 2005 Leeds Conductors Competition, the press described him as 'the most exciting and gifted young conductor to have taken this highly prestigious award'.