John Storgards

Canada’s National Arts Centre (NAC) announced that the Finnish conductor John Storgårds, 61, will become the NAC Orchestra’s eighth music director, beginning in the 2026–2027 season. Storgards succeeds Alexander Shelley, who will conclude his tenure as the Orchestra’s current Music Director in July 2026.

Storgards debuted with the NAC Orchestra in 2013 and has served as its Principal Guest Conductor since 2015.

As 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.

He was Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra from 2008 to 2015. He also regularly returns to the Munich Chamber Orchestra, where he was Artistic Partner from 2016 to 2019.