Carter Brey, the principal cellist of the New York Philharmonic, has announced he will retire from the orchestra at the conclusion of the 2025β26 season. His departure will mark the end of a 30-season tenure with the ensemble, a role he has held since 1996.
Brey joined the Philharmonic in the 1996-97 season, appointed by then-music director Kurt Masur. Throughout his career, he has been celebrated as a soloist, chamber musician, and a central voice within the orchestra's string section.
The search for his successor will begin immediately, according to the orchestra. Brey's final performances as principal cellist are scheduled for the upcoming season, which runs from September 2025 through June 2026.
