Andria Nelsons will conclude his tenure as Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) in the summer of 2027 in a surprise announcement by the orchestra board of directors.

In a statement, BSO trustee and CEO Chad Smith said, “The decision to not renew his contract was made by the BSO’s board of trustees because, beyond our shared desire to ensure our orchestra continues to perform at the highest levels, the BSO and Andris Nelsons were not aligned on future vision.”

Nelsons wrote to the musicians stating, “While this is not the decision I anticipated or wanted, I am unwaveringly committed to you and to our work together. I understand the decision was not related to artistic standards, performances, or achievements during my tenure, and, therefore, my focus is straightforward: to protect the music, support the orchestra’s stability, and continue to perform with the musicians of the BSO at the highest artistic level.”

Nelsons recently won a Grammy with the BSO for a recording of Shostakovich’s Cello Concertos with Yo-Yo Ma and is currently leading the Vienna Philharmonic on a U.S. tour that included a stop at the Kennedy Center on March 4.

Nelsons made his BSO debut in March 2011 at New York’s Carnegie Hall and was announced as Music Director in May 2013. He started his tenure in the 2014-15 season and extended his contract in 2015, 2020 and in 2024.

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