EarRelevant Staff | 31 JUL 2025
NASHVILLE, Tennessee— Alan D. Valentine will retire as president and CEO of the Nashville Symphony at the end of the 2025–26 season, the organization announced on Wednesday, concluding a nearly three-decade tenure marked by substantial artistic and institutional growth.
Valentine joined the Symphony in 1998 and has since overseen a period of dramatic expansion. His leadership helped spearhead the design and construction of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, guide two major fundraising campaigns totaling $145 million, and secure multiple artistic appointments, including the return of conductor Leonard Slatkin as music advisor in September 2025 to help ensure continuity in artistic planning during the leadership transition.
During his tenure, the Symphony earned 14 Grammy Awards and 27 nominations, released more than 40 recordings, and premiered numerous new works—including the opera The Jonah People: A Legacy of Struggle and Triumph and the Violins of Hope initiative. The orchestra also made its Carnegie Hall debut and completed a sold-out East Coast tour.
Valentine also helped launch Accelerando, a nationally recognized music education program aimed at creating pathways for young musicians from underrepresented communities. Under his leadership, the Symphony now reaches more than 550,000 people annually through concerts, education efforts, and community programs.
The organization credited Valentine with steady leadership during difficult times, including the 2010 flood that caused $40 million in damages to its downtown concert hall. Despite such setbacks, the Symphony continued to expand its programming and community outreach.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the Nashville Symphony and this incredible community,” Valentine said in a statement. “Together, we have built something truly special.”
Board Chair Mary Cavarra praised Valentine’s impact, calling him “a transformative leader whose dedication positioned the Symphony as a cultural anchor in the region and a national presence in the orchestral world.”
The Symphony’s board has hired the Arts Consulting Group to lead a national search for Valentine’s successor. Board Chair-elect Teresa Sebastian, who will lead the search committee, said the group will look for a candidate capable of building on Valentine’s legacy while guiding the institution into its next phase.
Founded in 1946, the Nashville Symphony presents more than 200 performances each year, offering a mix of classical, pop, film music, and family programming. The nonprofit organization has become a leading voice in contemporary American orchestral music and continues to maintain an active recording and community engagement profile. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Nashville Symphony: nashvillesymphony.org
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