Nashville Symphony President & CEO Alan D. Valentine To Retire

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Alan D. Valentine

Alan D. Valentine, President & CEO of the Nashville Symphony, has announced he’ll retire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, ending his 28-year tenure with the organization.

Since joining the Symphony in 1998, Valentine has led the organization through an unprecedented era of artistic and institutional growth. His visionary leadership helped shape many of the Symphony’s most defining milestones, including the design, financing, and construction of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center; two capital and endowment campaigns totaling $145 million; and the appointment of key artistic leaders, including Leonard Slatkin as Music Advisor.

Under Valentine’s direction, the Symphony has earned 14 Grammys and 27 nominations, produced more than 40 recordings, commissioned and premiered dozens of innovative works including the opera The Jonah People: A Legacy of Struggle and Triumph and Violins of Hope, made its Carnegie Hall debut, and embarked on a sold-out East Coast tour. Valentine also launched the nationally recognized Accelerando program and significantly expanded the Symphony’s reach, engaging more than 550,000 Middle Tennesseans annually through concerts, education programs, and community initiatives. Valentine also guided the organization through some of its most challenging moments, including the 2010 flood that caused $40 million in damage to Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

“Alan’s leadership has had a profound impact on the Nashville Symphony and Nashville,” says Mary Cavarra, Chair of the Board of Directors. “His vision, dedication, and resilience have positioned the Symphony as a cultural cornerstone of our city and a leader in the orchestral world. We are profoundly grateful for his decades of service and leadership and look forward to celebrating his remarkable legacy in the months ahead.”

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the Nashville Symphony and this incredible community,” says Valentine. “Together, we have built something truly special: a world-class orchestra performing in a world-class hall that not only delivers extraordinary musical experiences but also enriches the lives of people across Middle Tennessee. I am deeply grateful to our musicians, staff, boards, volunteers, donors, audiences, and the arts community for their support and for sharing in this journey for the past 28 years.”

In September 2025, Slatkin, an internationally acclaimed conductor and longtime friend of the Nashville Symphony, will return to serve as Music Advisor, ensuring continuity in leadership during the transition period. To ensure a seamless transition and maintain the Symphony’s trajectory of artistic excellence, community impact, and financial sustainability, the Board of Directors has engaged Arts Consulting Group to lead a national search for the Nashville Symphony’s next President & CEO.

“We are committed to conducting a thorough and thoughtful search for our next President & CEO, ensuring we find a leader who will build on Alan’s extraordinary legacy while guiding the Symphony into its next chapter of artistic innovation, community connection, and financial sustainability,” says Teresa Sebastian, Chair of the Search Committee and Board Chair-Elect.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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