People’s artist of Russia, Deputy artistic director of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic 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 Temirkanov’s supervision.

The laureate of Herbert Von Karajan Fund’s International Award (Western Berlin, 1982), n.a. V. Talich (Prague, 1985) and Min-On (Tokyo, 1985) has an immense creative work. He directed the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, performed with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Russian National orchestras. 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 a few years later, the Estonian State Culture prize). Alexeev’s concert activity scope ranges from Europe (Germany, France, Italy, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Finland, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and 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 St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Musician’s repertoire includes Viennese classics, works by Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. 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" with Nikolay Alexeev. 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”, 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, Shchedrin's "Concerto Cantabile" and Paganini’s Fifth violin concerto.

Last season, within the framework of the joint cultural and educational cycle of the Philharmonic and the State Hermitage, held by Nikolay Alexeev’s initiative, maestro performed the program "Secular and Spiritual", which included works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Hindemith. Additionally, Janacek’s "Glagolitic mass" featuring the Prague Philharmonic Choir, Shostakovich’s Twelfth Symphony and "Hypothetically Murdered", Prokofiev’s Cantata dedicated to the 20^th anniversary of October Revolution were performed that season. To wrap up the "Arts Square" festival Rodion Shchedrin’s recital took place in tandem with Nikolay Alexeev.

The new season promises a concert-offering of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra which will be dedicated to Yuri Temirkanov’s Anniversary, featuring joint performances with pianists Boris Berezovsky and Denis Kozhukhin, Sergei Dogadin and Narek Akhnazaryan, winners of the XIV Tchaikovsky International Competition. Shostakovich's Eighth Symphony (marking its 75^th anniversary), Tishchenko’s Dante Symphony ¹5 “Paradise” (marking composer’s 80^th anniversary), Prokofiev's Third Symphony, Brahms and Poulenc's double concerts will be performed at the Gala-concert. The “Arts Square" festival will host an Austro-German music evening featuring German baritone Matthias Guernet.

In 2017, the conductor was awarded the St. Petersburg Government Award for the 2016 concert programs.