Conviction and Trust are the Keys to Persuasion with Alexander Shelley

The Art of Persuasion

In this episode, Host Guy Pratte speaks with star conductor and maestro Alexander Shelley, music director of the National Arts Center Orchestra and principal associate conductor of London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. At first glance, it may seem surprising that we would discuss the art of persuasion with an orchestra conductor who uses gestures instead of words to do his job. But Alexander Shelley, who has been described as a natural communicator both on and off the podium, explains that conductors must also be great persuaders if they are to succeed in convincing an orchestra and the public to embrace their musical vision.

Key Takeaways

• [9:44] How Maestro Shelley persuades musicians to embrace his vision for a piece of music.
• [20:39] Alexander explains how different people can extract different interpretations and different styles from the same music.
• [37:16] How Maestro Shelley convinces the public that new music is worth listening to.

Additional Resources:

• Guy J. Pratte
• BLG
• The Art of Persuasion Podcast

About Your Host:

Host Guy Pratte was educated at the University of Western Ontario and later at the University of Toronto, where he earned his MA in philosophy and LLB. He was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1984 and Québec in 2002. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a former President of The Advocates’ Society.