As he embarks on his sixth decade on the podium, Nicholas McGegan — long hailed as “one of the finest baroque conductors of his generation” (The Independent) — is recognized for his probing and revelatory explorations of music of all periods. The 2019/20 season marks the final year of his 34-year tenure as Music Director of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale. He is Principal Guest Conductor of the Pasadena Symphony.

Best known as a baroque and classical specialist, McGegan has established the San Francisco-based Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale as one of the world’s leading period-performance ensembles.

Nicholas McGegan’s ability to engage players and audiences alike has made him a pioneer in broadening the reach of historically informed practice beyond the world of period ensembles to conventional symphonic forces. His guest-conducting appearances with major orchestras — including the New York, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong Philharmonics; the Chicago, Dallas, Utah, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Toronto, Sydney, and New Zealand Symphonies; the Philadelphia Orchestra; the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Scottish Chamber Orchestras; and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw — often feature Baroque repertoire alongside Classical, Romantic, 20th-century and even brand-new works. He was Artistic Director at the Göttingen Handel Festival for 20 years (1991-2001) and Principal Guest Conductor at Scottish Opera in the 1990s.

His discography includes more than 100 releases. His recordings with PBO have received two GRAMMY nominations and a Gramophone Award. His other recordings include more than 20 recordings with Hungary’s Capella Savaria and two recent albums with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra under the BIS label.

Highlights of his 2021/22 guest bookings in North America include appearances with the National Symphony Orchestra at both the Kennedy Center and the new Capital One Hall; the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra; a string of Messiah engagements with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and Apollo’s Fire; the Santa Barbara Symphony; Pasadena Symphony; a return to St. Louis Symphony Orchestra; and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in the all-Mozart semi-final round. In Europe, he appears with the NDR Radio Philharmonie in Handel’s Acis and Galatea HWV 49 (Mendelssohn’s version); the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra; and several performances with Capella Savaria.