People’s artist of Russia, Deputy artistic director of the St. Petersburg Philharmonia Nikolay Alexeev graduated from the Leningrad Glinka Choral School as well as the Leningrad Conservatory majoring in choral conducting under A.Mikhailov and opera and symphony conducting under A.Jansons. He did an internship at the Kirov (Mariinsky) Theater under Maestro Yuri Temirkanov’s supervision.

The artistic activity of Herbert Von Karajan Foundation International Award winner (Western Berlin, 1982), n.a. V. Talich (Prague, 1985) and Min-On (Tokyo, 1985) is truly immense. He led the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, performed with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Russian National Orchestra. Additionally, he has worked with several foreign orchestras such as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Rotterdam, Dresden, Stuttgart and Copenhagen Philharmonic orchestras, the Berlin and Baltimore Symphony orchestras, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony orchestra and the New Japan Philharmonic.

From 2001 to 2010, Nikolay Alexeev led the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, the oldest one in the Baltic states (in 2006 he was awarded the 3rd degree Estonian order of the White star for his work with the orchestra and in 2010 - the Estonian State Culture prize).

Maestro’s concert activity scope ranges from European countries (Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania) to Latin America, South Korea, Japan and the United States. In 2018, Nikolay Alexeev became the Chief Conductor of the Ulsan Philharmonic Orchestra (South Korea) - the first foreigner in the history of the orchestra to lead the orchestra.

Since 2000 Nikolay Alexeev has been the conductor of the Distinguished orchestra or Russia, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. On 21 January 2022 he was desighated the orchestra Chief Conductor. 

Musician’s repertoire includes Viennese classics, works by Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. Nikolay Alexeev and the orchestra performed all of Brahms' symphonies, a number of works by Stravinsky and Prokofiev, Mahler's Eighth Symphony, called "Symphony of a Thousand", Schoenberg’s “Gurrelieder” and Messiaen’s "Turangalila". Maestro regularly introduces new works to the public. He conducted a number of premiere performances: Tishchenko’s Second and Fifth “Dante” Symphonies, Slonimsky’s Thirteenth Symphony, Korolev’s "Figure of speech" and "Heretic ", Korchmar’s “Tsar's Chants”; Russian premieres of Borisova-Ollas’s First Symphony "The Triumph of Heaven" and "Wunderbare Leiden”, Varenbergh’s “Romeo and Juliet" fantasies for piano and orchestra, inspired by Rachmaninoff’s Symphony ¹ 1, St Petersburg premieres of Shchedrin's "Concerto Cantabile" and Paganini’s Fifth violin concerto.

In 2017, the conductor received the St. Petersburg Government Award for the 2016 concert programs. In February 2022, by the President of Russia’s decree, Nikolay Alexeev was awarded the Order of Friendship for his great contribution to the development of Russian culture, art and long-lasting prolific activity.

Opening and closing concerts of the season, as well as a concert dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the grand opening and the first concert of the Petrograd Philharmonia were conducted by Nikolay Alexeev with pianists N.Lugansky, B.Berezovsky, S.Trpceski, F. Kopachevsky, violinist S.Dogadin -  in the past anniversary philharmonic season. Among the works performed: Shostakovich's Fourth Symphony, Beethoven's First, Third and Sixth Symphonies, Mozart's Thirty-ninth Symphony and Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony, Prokofiev's Third Symphony and Brahms's First Symphony, Mahler's Ninth Symphony and Don Quixote by R.Strauss.

This year, the conductor opens the concert season, also dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Philharmonia, with a performance of Shostakovich's Seventh "Leningrad" Symphony. He plans for the near future to participate in the Gala Concert dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Philharmonia at the XXI International Winter Festival "Arts Square", performance with the St.Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra of the Second Violin Concerto (soloist A.Ibragimov) and  Shostakovich's Eleventh Symphony "1905", Brahms’ First Piano Concerto (soloist G.Olsson) and Scriabin's Prometheus in the final concert of the cycle dedicated to the composer's 150th birthday.

For the fourth season, the conductor has been actively collaborating with the St.Petersburg Symphony Orchestra of the Philharmonia, conducts opening and closing concerts of the season, performing with such soloists as pianist B.Douglas, violinist A.Pritchin, cellist N.Hakhnazaryan. In the 2019/2020 season, two foreign tours took place:  China (September 2019) and Latvia (March 2020, with the St. Petersburg Boris Eifman Ballet Theater). In the new season, Nikolay Alexeev also opens and closes the season with the St.Petersburg Symphony Orchestra. Winners of the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition: violinist S.Dogadin and cellist Z.Fang will take part in the concerts. The opening season concert program includes Brahms' Violin Concerto and Dante Symphony No. 5 "Paradise" by Tishchenko, the world premiere of which was presented by the conductor in 2009.