Alexander Shelley Named Artistic and Music Director of Artis–Naples, Home of Florida’s Naples Philharmonic

“In his first leadership post in the U.S., conductor Alexander Shelley is to be artistic and music director of Artis—Naples, that unusual partnership between the Naples (FL) Philharmonic and its -door neighbor, the Baker Museum,” writes Susan Elliott in Tuesday’s (4/18) Musical America (subscription required).  “Shelley, 43, begins immediately as designate, his full four-year tenure commencing in 2024-25. His predecessor Russian conductor Andrey Boreyko exited in 2022 after eight years. Meanwhile, Canadian violinist James Ehnes, named as artistic partner late last year as the music director search proceeded, has had his contract extended through 2023-24, its end thereby dovetailing with the start of Shelley’s. Shelley adds the Southwest Florida orchestra to two others: Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, where he is music director, and London’s Royal Philharmonic, where he is principal associate conductor. Both affiliations date to 2015. He first led the Naples ensemble in February of 2022 and returned the following January…. He is to lead three programs next season…. Shelly, who is based in London and Ottawa, trained initially as a cellist … At age 29 he became the youngest ever chief conductor of the Nürnberger Symphoniker, a position he held from September 2009 until August 2017.”