A New Era Begins as Alexander Brose Becomes President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory of Music

Published on September 3, 2024

Mr. Brose became the Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO on September 1 after a one-year transition with now President Emeritus, Dr. Peter Simon

Alexander Brose became the Michael & Sonja Koerner President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) on September 1, 2024, following a successful, year-long transition with Dr. Peter Simon, who retired from his position of leadership after 33 years.

Alex’s vast experience in music education and the performing arts, coupled with a collaborative spirit and distinct ability to listen, makes him the ideal leader to chart the next course for this important and revered Canadian institution. The Board of Directors and I look forward to working closely together with Alex and the rest of the RCM community in the years to come. We are also unanimous in our thanks to Peter Simon for creating such a strong foundation from which to build.

Tim Price
Chair, Board of Directors, The Royal Conservatory

Order of Ontario recipient and now President Emeritus of The Royal Conservatory, Dr. Peter Simon, said: “In Alex you have a very special person. We have spent a great deal of time together discussing the future of music performance and education and, specifically, the role of The Royal Conservatory in that future. We are 100% aligned in our view that the RCM can ascend to the next level of impact and service, and that it holds immense potential on the global stage. I know Alex is the right person to lead this remarkable institution into the next phase, and that he will cherish the journey as much as I have.”

Following an international search, Mr. Brose was announced as the RCM’s President & CEO Designate and began a year of overlap on September 1, 2023, working alongside Dr. Simon to ensure a seamless leadership transition. Upon arriving in Toronto, Mr. Brose immediately assumed responsibility for the three schools operating within the RCM campus: The degree-granting Glenn Gould School, The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists, and the Oscar Peterson School of Music. He attended activities related to the RCM Learning Systems and Certificate Program, including Convocations, Celebrations of Excellence, and Teacher Appreciation events throughout Canada and the United States. He also engaged in a series of conversations with RCM faculty and staff, meeting individually with over 175 new colleagues to better understand the DNA of the 138-year-old organization.

This past year afforded me the great luxury of becoming deeply familiar with The Royal Conservatory of Music, viewing it through numerous and diverse lenses. Irreplaceable conversations with Peter Simon confirmed for me that combining boundless vision and entrepreneurial leadership always brings inspiring results; discussions with the deeply dedicated Board of Directors, faculty, staff and students here in Toronto connected me to the RCM’s rich history; and visits with the teachers and students throughout North America who are so invested in the RCM’s innovative educational programming proved to me that the future of musical training and teaching is bright. Taken together, the past twelve months have been a remarkable learning experience. The Royal Conservatory touches the lives of tens of thousands of musicians on a daily basis and, as a result, exudes an energy that I have never felt at any other performing arts organization. I feel profound gratitude for the opportunity to lead the RCM forward into the future – into more households, teaching studios, classrooms, and performance venues worldwide.

Alexander Brose
Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO, The Royal Conservatory

Mr. Brose has over 25 years of experience working in the performing arts and education. Most recently, he was the inaugural Executive Director and CEO of the Tianjin Juilliard School in China, The Juilliard School in New York City’s first and only branch campus. Prior to that, he was the Vice President for Development at the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado. He began his career spending over a decade in senior management roles at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in California, including Director of Admissions and Associate Vice President for Advancement.

Born in the United States, Alex was raised in South Korea and Hong Kong. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and is proficient in Mandarin Chinese. An award-winning vocalist, Alex has performed in respected concert venues around the world. Mr. Brose’s wife and two children are Canadian.