Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez

Dr. Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez is an acclaimed conductor and pianist whose dynamic artistry and visionary leadership have earned him national and international recognition. He serves as Artistic Director of Musica Viva NY and Director of Music at Manhattan’s historic Unitarian congregation of All Souls NYC. He is also Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the New Orchestra of Washington (NOW) and Artistic Director of the Victoria Bach Festival.

Hernandez-Valdez has garnered consistent praise from leading publications. The Washington Post hailed him as a conductor “with the incisive clarity of someone born to the idiom,” while The New York Times praised his performance of Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem as “stirring.” Reflecting on his 2018 program commemorating the centenary of the World War I Armistice—which featured the world premiere of Joseph Turrin’s And Crimson Roses Once Again Be Fair—Oberon’s Grove wrote that “Maestro Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez drew rich, warm sounds from the musicians” in “a beautiful and deeply moving program.”

Recognized internationally, Hernandez-Valdez was featured in El Mundo en las Manos/Creadores Mexicanos en el Extranjero, a publication by the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs celebrating influential Mexican artists abroad. He also received the 2016 Shenandoah Conservatory Alumni of Excellence Award in recognition of his artistic distinction, professional achievement, and national prominence.

Since assuming leadership of Musica Viva NY in 2015, Hernandez-Valdez has significantly expanded the ensemble’s artistic reach. Described by The New York Times as “an excellent chorus,” the organization has deepened its commitment to innovation through new commissions while continuing its tradition of artistic excellence. Distinguished alumni include Renée Fleming, Samuel Ramey, and Michael Maliakel. Under his direction, the ensemble continues to champion bold and resonant repertoire that speaks powerfully to contemporary audiences.

In 2016, during its 40th anniversary season, Hernandez-Valdez was appointed the third Artistic Director of the Victoria Bach Festival, succeeding internationally acclaimed conductor Craig Hella Johnson. As Classical Voice North America critic Mike Greenberg observed, “Hernandez-Valdez replaced the question mark with an exclamation point—perhaps more appropriately, given his Spanish name and Mexican provenance, two exclamation points: ¡Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez! The results were astonishing.”

As Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the New Orchestra of Washington, Hernandez-Valdez has helped reimagine the chamber orchestra model for modern audiences. Praised by The Washington Post as part of the “smaller-is-better” movement, NOW presents innovative programming and culturally enriching performances throughout the National Capital Region.

A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Hernandez-Valdez has commissioned and premiered works by a distinguished roster of composers, including Joan Tower, Arturo Márquez, Joseph Turrin, Gilda Lyons, Richard Einhorn, Seymour Bernstein, Viet Cuong, Juan Pablo Contreras, Trevor Weston, and Elena Ruehr. His commitment to amplifying new voices and diverse perspectives continues to shape the evolving landscape of classical music.

As a pianist, Hernandez-Valdez was invited to perform at the Britten100 Festival in New York City, commemorating the centenary of Benjamin Britten. As a composer, he premiered The Imaginary City, a cantata inspired by the life of Ramzi Aburedwan, the Palestinian violist and educator working in refugee camps. He also created and premiered a chamber arrangement of Seymour Bernstein’s A Song of Nature, one of his most influential mentors and the subject of Ethan Hawke’s acclaimed documentary Seymour: An Introduction.

Most recently, Hernandez-Valdez led Musica Viva NY in recording three commissioned works by American composers for Naxos Records. Featuring legendary mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade in her final recording, the album has received widespread critical acclaim from publications including BBC Music Magazine, Gramophone, Choir & Organ, and Fanfare.

In March 2026, Hernandez-Valdez toured Spain with Musica Viva NY under the auspices of Teatro Real. Featuring sold-out performances in Madrid, Zaragoza, and Toledo—including an appearance as part of the 800th anniversary celebrations of the Cathedral of Toledo—the tour was met with enthusiastic acclaim.

Dr. Hernandez-Valdez resides in New York City, where his work continues to inspire, innovate, and elevate the world of classical music.