Jeff Alexander began his tenure as president of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (CSOA) in January of 2015. Since that time, he has developed a strong working relationship with the CSOA Board of Trustees, Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Chicago Symphony Chorus, the Association’s volunteers and administration in support of the artistic, education and financial goals of the organization.
Mr. Alexander played a key role as a member of the search committee in the selection of Klaus Mäkelä to become the 11th music director of the CSO and works closely with him, and with Riccardo Muti, the CSO’s 10th music director and current Music Director Emeritus for Life.
Since 2015 he has overseen the activities of the orchestra’s 125th anniversary season; worked in support of the wide range of education and community engagement programs offered by the Negaunee Music Institute at the CSO including the activities of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago; represented the organization on numerous CSO international and domestic tours; and led processes to develop a strategic plan as well as a diversity, equity and inclusion plan for the CSOA both adopted by the Board of Trustees. He is a strong advocate for the CSOA’s Governing Members, Latino Alliance, African American Network, Overture Council, League and Women’s Board.
Mr. Alexander has overseen or participated in activities and campaigns that have raised over $500 million for the CSOA’s annual, endowment and investment funds, growing the value of the organization’s endowment fund from $280 million to over $480 million, and reducing long-term debt by $25 million. In addition, he has led six negotiations for new collective bargaining agreements, three each with the members of the orchestra and the members of the chorus.
Mr. Alexander joined the CSOA from the Vancouver Symphony Society (VSO) in Canada, where he served as president and CEO for 14 years, beginning in September 2000. In that position, he served as the chief administrator for the organization, responsible for overseeing board, orchestra, government and community relations, long-range planning, and day-to-day management for Western Canada’s largest performing arts organization and Canada’s third largest symphony orchestra. He served on the Board of Directors of Orchestras Canada, the national service organizations for Canadian orchestras, from 2002 to 2014, including two years each as vice chair and chair.
Prior to joining the VSO, Mr. Alexander spent 16 years with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra from 1984 to 2000, the last 12 as general manager. As such, he was the “second in command” for the sixth oldest and eighth largest orchestra in the United States. From 1982 to 1984, Mr. Alexander served as general manager of the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra in Texas, and from 1980 to 1982 as general manager of Grapa Concerts in New York City, an artist management firm specializing in organizing Latin American tours for North American and European soloists and ensembles.
In a volunteer role, Mr. Alexander currently serves as president of the board of the national Symphony, Opera and Ballet Employers’ Electronic Media Association. In addition to his work on the Board of Orchestras Canada, he also served on the grant adjudication panel for the Canada Council for the Arts and the British Columbia Arts Council. More recently, he has served as a member of the jury of the Tokyo International Conducting Competition.
Jeff Alexander earned his Bachelor or Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he majored in French Horn Performance. He has been married for over 40 years to pianist Keiko Alexander, an active performer, teacher and competition adjudicator and a graduate of the Aichi University of Arts in Nagoya, Japan, and the Juilliard School in New York City.
November 2025
