The New York Philharmonic has announced that its principal cello, Carter Brey, will retire at the end of the 2025–26 season, concluding a tenure of 30 seasons with the orchestra.
Brey, who has held the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Chair since 1996, will give his final performances in New York as soloist in Cello Concerto No. 1 by Camille Saint-Saëns. The performances will take place in subscription concerts at David Geffen Hall from 27 to 30 May 2026, conducted by Elim Chan, as well as in the orchestra’s Concerts in the Parks in June.
Additional appearances include a previously announced performance of the same concerto at the Bravo! Vail Music Festival on 29 July 2026, conducted by Stéphane Denève.
In a statement, Brey described his decision to retire as timely, adding that serving as principal cello of his “beloved hometown orchestra” had been an “extraordinary privilege,” and expressing his intention to pass that role to a new generation of musicians.
Gustavo Dudamel, the orchestra’s incoming Music & Artistic Director, said that Brey “embodies everything that I love about the New York Philharmonic players,” highlighting both his musicianship and personal qualities.
Three decades with the orchestra
Brey joined the New York Philharmonic in 1996, following an established career as a soloist. He made his debut with the orchestra in 1997, performing Variations on a Rococo Theme by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky under then music director Kurt Masur.
Over the course of his tenure, he has appeared as soloist with the orchestra 79 times. He was also featured in performances of Bach Cello Suites during a Philharmonic festival dedicated to Johann Sebastian Bach, and most recently performed Double Concerto by Johannes Brahms alongside concertmaster Frank Huang under Jaap van Zweden in 2024.
He is also a founding member of the New York Philharmonic String Quartet, established in the 2016–17 season, which has performed both in New York and on tour.
Career and background
Before joining the Philharmonic, Brey studied at the Peabody Institute and Yale University, and was a member of The Cleveland Orchestra.
He first gained international attention as a prizewinner at the Rostropovich International Cello Competition in 1981 and subsequently developed a career as a soloist, performing with major orchestras across the United States and working with conductors including Claudio Abbado and Christoph von Dohnányi.
Alongside his orchestral and solo work, Brey has maintained an active presence in chamber music, appearing with ensembles such as the Emerson String Quartet and at festivals including Spoleto and Santa Fe.
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