Hello, I’m John Axelrod, an arts executive, conductor, and educator with a lifelong passion for transforming ideas into living cultural experiences. Over the years I have led orchestras, built cross-disciplinary programs that fuse music with gastronomy and wine, and developed global platforms for emerging talents through master classes, residencies, and fundraising. My work spans performance, education, and cultural philanthropy, uniting artists, sponsors, and communities around bold artistic visions. I’ve built ventures across Europe, the Americas, and Asia—from leading major orchestras as Music Director and Artistic Leader to creating online and in-person programs like Conductors Master Class Online and Iam Bacchus. I’m committed to expanding access to musical patrimony and education, while fostering collaborations with partners and patrons to sustain ambitious artistic projects and cultural education for underrepresented audiences.

John Axelrod

Hello, I’m John Axelrod, an arts executive, conductor, and educator with a lifelong passion for transforming ideas into living cultural experiences. Over the years I have led orchestras, built cross-disciplinary programs that fuse music with gastronomy and wine, and developed global platforms for emerging talents through master classes, residencies, and fundraising. My work spans performance, education, and cultural philanthropy, uniting artists, sponsors, and communities around bold artistic visions. I’ve built ventures across Europe, the Americas, and Asia—from leading major orchestras as Music Director and Artistic Leader to creating online and in-person programs like Conductors Master Class Online and Iam Bacchus. I’m committed to expanding access to musical patrimony and education, while fostering collaborations with partners and patrons to sustain ambitious artistic projects and cultural education for underrepresented audiences.

Available to hire

Hello, I’m John Axelrod, an arts executive, conductor, and educator with a lifelong passion for transforming ideas into living cultural experiences. Over the years I have led orchestras, built cross-disciplinary programs that fuse music with gastronomy and wine, and developed global platforms for emerging talents through master classes, residencies, and fundraising. My work spans performance, education, and cultural philanthropy, uniting artists, sponsors, and communities around bold artistic visions.

I’ve built ventures across Europe, the Americas, and Asia—from leading major orchestras as Music Director and Artistic Leader to creating online and in-person programs like Conductors Master Class Online and Iam Bacchus. I’m committed to expanding access to musical patrimony and education, while fostering collaborations with partners and patrons to sustain ambitious artistic projects and cultural education for underrepresented audiences.

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Language

English
Fluent
French
Fluent
Italian
Fluent
German
Fluent
Spanish; Castilian
Intermediate

Work Experience

Music Director and Principal Conductor at Swiss National Orchestra
August 1, 2023 - December 31, 2024
Engaged as 1st Music Director; directed National Day Concert and led programming and performances.
Music Director and Principal Conductor at Bucharest Symphony Orchestra
January 1, 2022 - Present
Programming and performance of minimum 3 concerts per season, including educational programs, masterclasses and recordings.
President of Jury and Leader of Masterclasses and Competitions for Conductors at Bucharest Music Institute
January 1, 2022 - Present
Overseeing masterclasses and conducting competitions; juror for conducting.
Principal Guest Conductor at City of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2023
Programming and performance of minimum 4 concerts per season, including educational programs.
Artistic and Musical Director at Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2020
Directed artistic and musical programming; fundraising, touring, recording and education; minimum of 18 performances per season.
Principal Guest Conductor at Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2019
Programming and performance of minimum 4 concerts per season; touring.
Music Director at NHK Jazz at Metropolitan Theater, Japan
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2016
Concerts and masterclasses.
Music Director at Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2013
Programming and performance of subscription series; engaged guest artists; toured to China (2013).
Music Director and Theater Director at Hollywood in Vienna, ORF, Vienna Konzerthaus
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2011
Broadcast Red Carpet Film Music Event programming and performances.
Music Director and Theater Director at Lucerne Symphony Orchestra and Theater
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2009
Programming and performance of subscription series; Nimbus Recordings; 35 operas performed; established U25 youth program.
Principal Director at Sinfonietta Cracovia
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2009
Programming and performance of minimum 4 concerts per season; touring and recording.
Founder, CEO and Artistic Director at Orchestra X
January 1, 1997 - December 31, 2003
Programming and performance of subscription series; commissioning of new works; education and outreach.
Managing Director at Robert Mondavi Wine and Food Center
January 1, 1994 - December 31, 1996
Budget management; administrative planning; staff; concerts and events; wine education and tastings.
Artist and Repertoire Director at RCA/BMG, Los Angeles
January 1, 1990 - December 31, 1992
Talent discovery, contracts, budgets, artist touring, recording.
Artist and Repertoire Manager at Atlantic Records, Los Angeles
January 1, 1988 - December 31, 1990
Talent discovery, contracting, budgeting, touring, video production.
CMO at ConductorsMasterClassOnline.com
January 1, 2020 - Present
Online teaching of conducting to an international community; Free Great Maestros Series.
CEO at IamBacchus.com
January 1, 2018 - Present
Wine and music experiences; essays, tastings, dinners, culinary concerts, tours.
CEO and Artistic Director at CULINARY CONCERTS
January 1, 2017 - Present
Culinary concerts; fusion of gastronomy, wine and music for private and corporate clients.
Founder, President & CEO/Treasurer at CultureAll Association
January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2023
Fundraising and management; 14 million CHF raised over 10 years for performance and education projects.
CEO at The Orchestra as Enterprise
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2020
Seminars in management and leadership using an orchestra as a learning model for organizations.
Chief Marketing Officer at Conductor's Master Class Online
January 1, 2020 - Present
Online teaching of the craft and career of conducting for an international community of over 800 students, amateurs and professionals; global profile and access; presenting Free Great Maestros Series.
CEO at Iam Bacchus
January 1, 2018 - Present
IamBacchus.com offers a sensory experience at the intersection of music, food and wine, including essays, wine/dégustations, dinners, culinary concerts, and luxury wine and music tours.
Interim CEO / Consejero Delegado at Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville
January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2019
Managed staff of 15; €10.6 million budget; labor negotiations; philanthropic cultivation; tours, recordings and special fundraising projects; season design; budget growth and hiring.
Artist and Repertoire Director at RCA/BMG
January 1, 1990 - January 1, 1992
Los Angeles; discovery of talent, signing contracts, budgeting recordings, inter-label communication, artist touring, video production.
Artist and Repertoire Manager at Atlantic Records
January 1, 1988 - January 1, 1990
Los Angeles; talent discovery, contract signing, budgeting recordings, inter-label communication, artist touring, video production.
Music Director and Principal Conductor at Swiss National Orchestra
January 1, 2024 - Present
Programming and performance; current role since 2024 with repertoire and educational initiatives; international tours and recordings.
Principal Conductor at Bucharest Symphony Orchestra
January 1, 2022 - Present
Programming and performance; educational programs and masterclasses; recordings.
Music Director at Hollywood in Vienna
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2011
ORF; Vienna Konzerthaus; broadcast red carpet film music event.
Music Director at Lucerne Symphony Orchestra and Theater
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2009
Programming of subscription series; tours to Japan; Nimbus/Naxos recordings; youth program development.

Education

Conducting Degree at St. Petersburg Conservatory
January 1, 1995 - January 1, 1996
Bachelor of Music at Harvard University
January 1, 1984 - January 1, 1998
Summer studies at Berklee College of Music
January 1, 1984 - January 1, 1988
Conducting Degree at St. Petersburg Conservatory
January 1, 1995 - January 1, 1996
Bachelor of Music at Harvard University
January 1, 1984 - January 1, 1998
Summer studies at Berklee College of Music
January 1, 1984 - January 1, 1988

Qualifications

ICMA Award
January 1, 2012 - December 28, 2025
Victoire de la Musique
January 1, 2010 - December 28, 2025

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Travel & Hospitality