ALEXANDER SHELLEY
ARTISTIC AND MUSIC DIRECTOR
PACIFIC SYMPHONY
WHY: London-born conductor succeeding Carl St. Clair as artistic and music director of Pacific Symphony in the upcoming 2026-2027 season. Only the third person to take on the role in the symphony’s 46-year history.
IN THE NEWS: Conducted three concerts in May at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, featuring works from Tan Dun and Beethoven.
NOTABLE: Son of concert pianists. Gained early interest in cello from a young age and studied conducting in Germany at age 18. Conducting career took off in 2005 when he was the youngest person at the time to win the Leeds Conductors Competition at age 25.
QUOTABLE: “I’m a different conductor and a different musician as a person to Carl, so I will bring different takes on pieces that audiences know very well, and I think that’s so exciting.”
