Naumburg Orchestral Concerts Appoints New Executive Director

Anthony Bracewell will now assume the role at the historic summer concert series

Founded in 1905, the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts (NOC) is the world’s oldest continuously running free outdoor classical concert series, held annually in Central Park’s Naumburg Bandshell. 

Anthony Bracewell, who is also a violinist, violist, and musical collaborator, is starting as NOC’s new executive director just as the organization is undergoing a leadership transition. 

In preparation, he will be working closely with Christopher W. London — whose family has stewarded the NOC since its inception. London will remain as NOC President and will also take on an advisory role. 

Known for his versatility across classical, folk, and world traditions, Bracewell is a graduate of The Juilliard School, Rice University, and the Cleveland Institute of Music. 

He has also served in principal roles with the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra and Geneva Light Opera, and has appeared with chamber groups including the Ulysses and Tesla Quartets, Quatuor Arod, DACAMERA of Houston, and the New Juilliard Ensemble.

Additionally, Bracewell is a member of the Hudson Valley-based collective Jazz and Classics for Change, and is a sought-after violinist within New York’s Jewish music community. 

“The Naumburg Orchestral Concerts have been part of my life for nearly four decades, and I’m proud of the legacy my family has nurtured in Central Park and beyond,” said C.W. London in the press release. “Working to save the building from demolition with a groundbreaking lawsuit, began my involvement with the concerts. Now that the series is better placed and operationally more vigorous, I’m comfortable stepping back from the day-to-day leadership and I do so with the utmost confidence in Anthony’s creative spirit and collaborative ethos. His musicianship, wide-ranging experience and enthusiasm for public music-making align beautifully with our values. I look forward to working together with him this year and to cheering on the re-invigorated concerts.”

“I’m deeply honored to join the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts and be part of something so rare and meaningful,” Bracewell expressed. “You just can’t beat live music — and in today’s internet age, it feels more important than ever to bring that experience directly to the public. Elkan Naumburg believed great music should be free and accessible to all New Yorkers, and I think he’d be proud of where we are today. Christopher W. London saved the Bandshell and, together with Judith Naumburg, championed its renovation. In doing so they secured an elegant home for our concerts, a cultural pillar in the heart of one of the city’s greatest parks, and I’m excited to carry our vision forward and bring even more people to the Bandshell to experience the magic of classical music.”

“We welcome Anthony with great enthusiasm, and we are grateful to Christopher for his decades of leadership and care,” added Board Chair Judith Naumburg. This is a moment of evolution and promise for the series.”