Gemma New

Gemma New (born 27 December 1986) is a New Zealand-born conductor.

Gemma New
Background information
Born (1986-12-27) 27 December 1986
Wellington, New Zealand
Occupation(s)Conductor, composer
InstrumentsViolin, piano
Associated actsLos Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Biography

Born into a musical family,[1][2] New began violin studies at age 5, and piano lessons at age 8.[3] By age 12, she was playing in a youth orchestra in Wellington.[4][5] As a teenager, she conducted the Christchurch Youth Orchestra.

New read physics, mathematics, and music at the University of Canterbury, from which she graduated with a degree in music.[6] She later earned a graduate degree in music from Baltimore, Maryland's Peabody Institute.[3]

New founded and directed the Maryland music collective Lunar Ensemble, with which she has premiered 26 compositions.[7] New was assistant conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra from 2011 to 2016.[8][9] In the 2014-2015 season, she was a Dudamel Conducting Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.[3] For 2014, she was a Kurt Masur conducting fellow.

In May 2015, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO) named New as its next music director, the first female conductor ever named to the post.[3] This appointment marked New's first music directorship. Her first performance in the post was in February 2016.[1] In May 2017, the HPO extended New's contract as music director through the 2020-2021 season.[10] In November 2020, the HPO announced a further extension of New's contract as music director through the 2023-2024 season.[11]

In June 2016, New was appointed resident conductor of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) and music director of the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra.[12] In September 2018, New directed the opening concerts of the SLSO's 2018-2019 season, the first female conductor ever to do so.[13] She stood down from her St. Louis posts at the close of the 2019-2020 season.[14] In October 2018, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of New as its next principal guest conductor, the first female conductor to hold the title, effective with the 2019-2020 season.[15]

References
  1. Leonard Turnevicius (7 February 2016). "HPO's new music director makes her debut - and it was worth waiting for". Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  2. Leonard Turnevicius (18 September 2016). "Snap, crackle and pop: Gemma New and HPO light up Hamilton Place". Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  3. Samantha Craggs (4 July 2015). "Gemma New of Hamilton Philharmonic is 1 of continent's few female conductors". CBC News. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  4. Paul Hunter (6 March 2016). "Conductor Gemma New breaking brass ceiling in Steeltown". The Star. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  5. "Gemma New: Conductor on the rise". Radio New Zealand. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  6. Kip Brook (22 July 2014). "Canterbury graduate and rising young conductor". University of Canterbury News. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  7. Kevin Coughlin (22 June 2014). "Chasing rainbows: Gemma New, Kiwi conductor-turned-Jersey Girl, aims for more NJSO magic at Giralda, June 22". Morristown Green. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  8. Sarah Bryan Miller (25 August 2016). "Rising Star: SLSO's Gemma New makes music 'a holistic experience'". Saint Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  9. Ross Amico (5 October 2016). "Classical Music: NJSO performing this weekend". Times of Trenton. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  10. "HPO extends Gemma New's contract until 2021" (Press release). Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  11. "Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra announces the extension of Gemma New's contract through 2024" (Press release). Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  12. Sarah Bryan Miller (2 June 2016). "SLSO appoints Gemma New as resident conductor". Saint Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  13. Sarah Bryan Miller (23 September 2018). "Music review: A great start for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's new season". Saint Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  14. "As Her Tenure Concludes, Gemma New Reflects On Her Time As SLSO Resident Conductor". SLSO Stories. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  15. "Gemma New Named Principal Guest Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra" (Press release). Dallas Symphony Orchestra. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
Cultural offices
Preceded by
James Sommerville		 Music Director, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
2015–present		 Succeeded by
incumbent
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