Washington’s National Symphony Orchestra Extends Music Director Contract 

Conductor Gianandrea Noseda has signed on for an additional four years with the orchestra 

One of The Kennedy Center’s flagship ensembles, the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) has announced a four-year extension to Music Director Gianandrea Noseda’s contract. 

Noseda, who officially began his role at the NSO in 2017, received his first contract extension in 2022 to lead the orchestra through the 2026/27 season. His second extension will now culminate with the NSO’s centenary season in 2031.

Throughout his tenure so far, Noseda has hired 23 of its 96 full-time musicians; and since 2019, has loaned a selection of 17th- to 19th-century string instruments from his private collection to members of the orchestra. 

Under his direction, the NSO has performed eight co-commissioned works, including five world premieres, plus seen an increase in ticket sales for its classical programs, reported The Washington Post. 

Additionally, the NSO has raised over $11 million as part of the Noseda Era Fund, which supports Noseda’s core artistic initiatives as well as NSO recording, touring, and major projects. Noseda also helped launch the orchestra’s own record label. 

In tandem with his role at NSO, he also serves as general music director of the Zurich Opera and principal guest conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.  

“For nearly 95 years, the National Symphony Orchestra has stood as one of America’s preeminent orchestras and artistic ambassadors,” Noseda said. “Being this orchestra’s music director is one of the great honors of my life and I’m overjoyed that we will continue our journey and celebrate the orchestra’s 100th anniversary in 2031. The extraordinary artistry of the NSO is more recognized than ever as we continue to record, stream and tour.”

“The National Symphony is overjoyed that Gianandrea has extended his tenure,” said NSO Executive Director, Gary Ginstling. “Despite the pandemic interruption, Gianandrea and the NSO have made extraordinary artistic strides, and we look forward with tremendous anticipation and excitement to what the next five years will bring.”

“I adore this performing arts institution and the people who make it what it is,” Noseda added. “I adore the artists of this incredible orchestra, and I believe so powerfully in our work and our future together. Everything seems musically and artistically possible … This is an orchestra ready to take risks, they are eager to explore new repertoire together, and they bring and sustain such goodwill to both me and the audiences, night after night. The last five years with the NSO have been the most rewarding partnership I could have imagined. We faced challenges together during the pandemic era and persevered. I feel very fortunate to be leading this outstanding orchestra with a great management team for five years more.”    

This announcement comes as The Kennedy Center has undergone sweeping changes since U.S. President Trump’s takeover of the institution. Deborah Rutter, who was the center president until she stepped down this January, is credited with the appointment of Noseda in 2016 as Music Director Designate. 

“[The NSO and I] have established this kind of mutual trust in our relationship,” Noseda explained in The New York Times. “It would have been a pity to stop.”

Recently, the NSO musicians wrote in a statement that they are “proud to perform for our patrons, our community in our nation’s capital, and the country at large.”

Last week, Noseda led a concert of works by Shostakovich and Stravinsky that was attended by Vice President JD Vance and the second lady, Usha Vance, who were both loudly booed as they took their seats in the box tier.

At the time, Noseda said he was not aware of the booing, which happened before he went on stage. But he said the atmosphere of the concert felt more intense than usual, NYT reported. 

“In a situation of not danger, but some drama, we must underline the power of the art and the music,” Noseda said, when asked about the Kennedy Center’s current trajectory. “This center will survive me, and it will survive everybody … When you come here, it’s sort of a holy place — you keep everything out. That doesn’t mean you don’t believe or have your convictions. But when you go to that place, it’s just the place for the music.”

His upcoming projects with the NSO include a Florida tour — the orchestra’s first domestic tour since 2011. Noseda commented that he would welcome the chance to have Trump at a concert someday.

“I would love to perform for the widest possible audience, so why not for the president, the vice president, the first lady, the second lady?” he expressed. “The music is for everybody. The art is for everybody.”