Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra Announces the Appointment of John Storgårds as its Next Music Director

Internationally acclaimed conductor begins his tenure in September 2026

(Credit: Jussi Virkkumaa)

September 3, 2025 – OTTAWA (Canada) – Canada’s National Arts Centre (NAC) announced today that the internationally acclaimed Finnish conductor John Storgårds will become the NAC Orchestra’s eighth music director, beginning in the 2026–2027 season. Widely celebrated for his artistry, versatility, and deep connection with musicians and audiences alike, Storgårds succeeds Alexander Shelley, who will conclude his tenure as the Orchestra’s current Music Director in July 2026.

Storgårds debuted with the NAC Orchestra in 2013 and has served as its Principal Guest Conductor since 2015. Over the past decade, NAC Orchestra audiences have responded with enthusiasm to the extraordinary artistic partnership and connection between Storgårds and the musicians, whose concerts together have been marked by a purity of musical communication and passion. 

Renowned for his imaginative programming, compelling interpretations, and performances that balance rousing energy with refinement, Storgårds currently serves as Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic and the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as Artistic Director of the Lapland Chamber Orchestra. Storgårds is also an accomplished violinist and chamber musician—an artistic duality that enriches his interpretive depth and versatility. As a conductor, he appears with many of the world’s foremost orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as all major Nordic orchestras, including the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, where he was Chief Conductor from 2008 to 2015. In Canada, he also appears with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.

Under Storgårds’s baton, the NAC Orchestra has expanded its flexibility and repertoire, with exhilarating first-ever performances of Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 3, Vaughan Williams’s Symphony No. 5, Nielsen’s Symphony No. 2, and Sibelius’s Symphony No. 3. Storgårds is also a staunch advocate for 20^th and 21^st-century voices. His programming with the NAC Orchestra has included music by Kaija Saariaho, Sunleif Rasmussen, Sebastian Fagerlund, Betsy Jolas, Outi Tarkiainen, and Victoria Poleva, among others.

Storgårds believes strongly in the NAC’s role as an advocate for Canada’s artists, and he looks forward to building on the NAC Orchestra’s legacy of commissioning, performing, touring, and recording new Canadian works. In 2019, he conducted the world premiere of Canadian Métis composer Ian Cusson’s Le loup de Lafontaine, commissioned through the NAC Orchestra’s Carrefour Composers Residency, contributing to Cusson’s future as one of Canada’s most significant emerging voices.

John Storgårds is also passionate about developing the next generation of musicians, and his vision for the NAC Orchestra will build on its commitment to professional development for young artists. He will bring new energy to programs and partnerships for emerging composers, conductors, and artists from across Canada, which currently includes collaborations with Women in Musical Leadership, Opéra de Montréal’s Atelier Lyrique, and the Canadian Opera Company.

“I couldn’t be more honoured, happy, and thrilled to become Music Director of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, an orchestra I already love so deeply. When I look back at the highlights of each season, my concerts with the NAC Orchestra always stand out among the very best moments. Not only is it a fantastic orchestra, it is also a family of wonderful musicians and people, with whom I have felt a special bond from the very first time we worked together. I also look forward to strengthening my relationship with the Orchestra’s devoted, enthusiastic, and justifiably proud audience, as well as with all Canadians.”
- John Storgårds

“John Storgårds is an exceptional conductor and artist, who has developed a tremendous rapport with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, one felt by both the musicians and audiences. He is passionate about working with Canadian guest artists and composers and will build on the NAC Orchestra’s long-standing commitment to furthering Canadian music nationally and internationally. We greatly look forward to welcoming him as our Music Director in September 2026.”
- Christopher Deacon, President and CEO of the National Arts Centre

“I am delighted that John Storgårds will be our next Music Director. While John and the Orchestra have already established a strong relationship, there is so much excitement about the potential for further discovery and artistic growth. John is a steadfast supporter in areas where we are firmly committed, including professional development for young and emerging artists and nurturing new creation. We couldn’t be happier!
- Nelson McDougall, Managing Director of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra

“On behalf of the musicians of the NAC Orchestra, I am so pleased to welcome John Storgårds as our next Music Director. Our weeks with John are always filled with challenging, profound, and exhilarating music-making. As an orchestra, we are completely in sync with John, with a depth of musical connection and trust that is truly special. His appointment marks a rare opportunity to expand an already superb relationship, adding a new layer of leadership and vision.”
- Joanna G’froerer, Principal Flute, NAC Orchestra

“Congratulations to both parties on a truly inspiring collaboration! John has been a cherished colleague of mine for almost two decades, and it is such a privilege to witness the mastery and sincerity of his music-making.”

- Barbara Hannigan, award-winning Canadian soprano and conductor

(Credit: Curtis Perry)

ABOUT JOHN STORGÅRDS
Principal Guest Conductor of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, and longstanding Artistic Director of the Lapland Chamber Orchestra, John Storgårds has forged a dual career as a conductor and violin virtuoso, collaborating with the world’s most eminent ensembles and distinguished soloists. Widely recognized for his creative flair for programming, as well as his rousing yet refined interpretations, Storgårds’s adventurous performances and award-winning recordings have earned him global critical acclaim.

Storgårds appears with many of the world’s leading orchestras, from the Berlin, Munich and New York Philharmonics to the Boston and Chicago Symphony Orchestras, as well as all major Northern European ensembles, including the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, where he was Chief Conductor from 2008 to 2015. He also regularly returns to the Munich Chamber Orchestra, where he was Artistic Partner from 2016 to 2019. He collaborates with leading soloists, including Hilary Hahn, Barbara Hannigan, Yefim Bronfman, Augustin Hadelich, and Sol Gabetta and remains active as a violinist, frequently combining solo and conducting engagements. He also appears at major international festivals and gives recitals with regular partners such as Kirill Gerstein.

Storgårds’s acclaimed discography features complete symphony cycles from Sibelius (2014) and Nielsen (2015) with the BBC Philharmonic on Chandos, as well as a trilogy devoted to works by George Antheil. Their ongoing Shostakovich series was launched in 2020 with Symphony No. 11. In 2023, John and the BBC Philharmonic received a nomination from Gramophone magazine for Orchestra of the Year. Acclaimed releases with the Lapland Chamber Orchestra have featured works by renowned Nordic composers, including Sebastian Fagerlund and Kalevi Aho. Storgårds studied violin with Chaim Taub and conducting with Jorma Panula and Eri Klas and has been honoured with the Finnish State Prize for Music (2002) and the Pro Finlandia Medal (2012).

ABOUT CANADA’S NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE ORCHESTRA
Canada’s National Arts Centre (NAC) Orchestra is praised for the passion and clarity of its performances, its visionary learning and engagement programs, and its unwavering support of Canadian creativity. The NAC Orchestra is based in Ottawa, Canada’s national capital, and has grown into one of the country’s most acclaimed and dynamic ensembles since its founding in 1969. Under the leadership of Music Director Alexander Shelley, the NAC Orchestra reflects the fabric and values of Canada, engaging communities from coast to coast to coast through inclusive programming, compelling storytelling, and innovative partnerships. 

Since taking the helm in 2015, Shelley has shaped the Orchestra’s artistic vision, building on the legacy of his predecessor, Pinchas Zukerman, who led the ensemble for 16 seasons. Shelley’s influence extends beyond the NAC. He serves as Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the United Kingdom and Artistic and Music Director of Artis—Naples and the Naples Philharmonic in the United States. In addition to his other conducting roles, the Pacific Symphony in California’s Orange County announced Shelley’s appointment as its next Artistic and Music Director, beginning in the 2026-2027 season. Shelley’s leadership is complemented by Principal Guest Conductor John Storgårds and Principal Youth Conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, known for creating innovative and engaging community programming. In 2024, the Orchestra marked a new chapter with the appointment of Henry Kennedy as its first-ever Resident Conductor. 

The Orchestra has a rich history of partnerships with renowned artists, including James Ehnes, Angela Hewitt, Renée Fleming, Hilary Hahn, Jeremy Dutcher, Jan Lisiecki, Ray Chen, and Yeol Eum Son, underscoring its reputation as a destination for world-class talent. As one of the most accessible, inclusive, and collaborative orchestras in the world, the NAC Orchestra utilizes music as a universal language to convey the deepest human emotions and connect people through shared experiences. 

A hallmark of the NAC Orchestra is its national and international tours. The Orchestra has performed concerts in every Canadian province and territory and has earned frequent invitations to perform abroad. These tours spotlight Canadian composers and artists, bringing their voices to stages across North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE
The National Arts Centre is Canada’s bilingual, multi-disciplinary home for the performing arts. The NAC presents, creates, produces, and co-produces performing arts programming in various streams — the NAC Orchestra, Dance, English Theatre, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, and Popular Music and Variety — and nurtures the next generation of audiences and artists from across Canada. The NAC is located in the National Capital Region on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Annabelle Cloutier
Executive Director, Strategy and Communications
Canada’s National Arts Centre
annabelle.cloutier@nac-cna.ca
(613) 301-2764

Noah Richardson
Communications Strategist
Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra
noah.richardson@nac-cna.ca
(613) 415-5208

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