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 M.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 3^rd 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).

Since 2000 Nikolay Alexeev has been the conductor of the Distinguished orchestra or Russia, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

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.

Last two seasons, the conductor led a concert-offering from the artists of the Distinguished orchestra of Russia to the anniversary of Yuri Temirkanov, joint performances with pianists Boris Berezovsky, Denis Kozhukhin, Vadim Rudenko, Nikolai Lugansky, Barry Douglas, violinist Sergei Dogadin (for the first time in the status of the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition winner) and Sergey Khachatryan, cellists Narek Hakhnazaryan and Edgar Moreau, as well as German baritone Matthias Goerne and American violinist Joshua Bell (within the International “Arts Square” Festival).

The performed works featured: Shostakovich's Eighth (to the 75th anniversary of its creation) and Fifteenth symphonies, Poulenc's Double Concerto, selected songs in orchestrations and Schubert's Fifth Symphony, Brahms’ Third Symphony and Violin Concerto, Rachmaninoff's Third Symphony, Mahler’s Fifth and Seventh Symphonies, Strauss’ “Ein Heldenleben”, Stravinsky and Korngold’s Violin Concertos, Bartok Concerto for orchestra.

This year the conductor opens the concert season dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Philharmonia with Rachmaninoff's Third Concerto (soloist - Nikolai Lugansky) and Shostakovich's First Symphony. He will conduct the Beethoven's Ninth Symphony on the opening of the “Arts Square” International Winter Festival. The playbill also includes Beethoven's First and Sixth Symphonies, Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony, Prokofiev's Third Symphony, music by Ravel and Rachmaninoff, and on New Year's Eve Nikolay Alexeev will present a large festive program.

For the third season, the conductor has been actively cooperating with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, leading a number of concerts with the Orchestra, including the opening and closing of the orchestra's season, goes to the concert tours. Last season there were two concert tours; China (September 2019), Latvia (March, 2020, with St. Petersburg State Ballet Theatre of Boris Eifman). In the new season, Nikolai Alexeev also opens and closes the season of the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, featuring Narek Hakhnazaryan and Barry Douglas, with works by Tchaikovsky, Schumann's Piano Concerto and Mahler's First Symphony. The conductor is scheduled to tour with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra and The Eifman Ballet in New York, USA, in March 2021.