Gemma New Explained

Gemma New
Birth Date:1986 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Wellington, New Zealand
Birth Name:Gemma Elizabeth New
Occupation:Conductor, composer
Instrument:Violin, piano
Associated Acts:Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

Gemma Elizabeth New (born 27 December 1986) is a New Zealand-born conductor. She is currently principal conductor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Early life and education

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 attended Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, in Karori, Wellington, from 1991 to 2004.[6]

New read physics, mathematics, and music at the University of Canterbury, from which she graduated with a degree in music.[7] She later earned a graduate degree in music from Baltimore, Maryland's Peabody Institute.[3]

Career

New founded and directed the Maryland music collective Lunar Ensemble, with which she has premiered 26 compositions.[8] New was assistant conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra from 2011 to 2016.[9] [10] In the 2014–2015 season, she was a Dudamel Conducting Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. 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.[11] In November 2020, the HPO announced a further extension of New's contract as music director through the 2023–2024 season.[12] New concluded her HPO tenure at the close of the 2023-2024 season.[13]

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.[14] In September 2018, New directed the opening concerts of the SLSO's 2018–2019 season, the first female conductor ever to do so.[15] She stood down from her St. Louis posts at the close of the 2019–2020 season.[16] 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.[17] She served in the post through the 2022–2023 season.[18]

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) appointed New as its artistic adviser and principal conductor in 2022, the first woman to hold the posts.[19] [20]

Honours and awards

In March 2021, the Solti Foundation U.S. announced New as the 12th recipient of The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award.[21] [22]

In the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours, New was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to music direction.[23]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: HPO's new music director makes her debut – and it was worth waiting for . Hamilton Spectator . Leonard Turnevicius . 7 February 2016 . 3 May 2017 . 25 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171025075017/https://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/6267305-hpo-s-new-music-director-makes-her-debut-and-it-was-worth-waiting-for/ . live .
  2. News: Snap, crackle and pop: Gemma New and HPO light up Hamilton Place . Hamilton Spectator . Leonard Turnevicius . 18 September 2016 . 3 May 2017 . 22 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180722155746/https://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/6864710-snap-crackle-and-pop-gemma-new-and-hpo-light-up-hamilton-place/ . live .
  3. News: Gemma New of Hamilton Philharmonic is 1 of continent's few female conductors . CBC News . Samantha Craggs . 4 July 2015 . 2 May 2017 . 14 November 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161114160348/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/gemma-new-of-hamilton-philharmonic-is-1-of-continent-s-few-female-conductors-1.3137925 . live .
  4. News: Conductor Gemma New breaking brass ceiling in Steeltown . The Star . Paul Hunter . 6 March 2016 . 3 May 2017 . 19 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170519000736/https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2016/03/06/conductor-gemma-new-breaking-brass-ceiling-in-steeltown.html . live .
  5. News: Gemma New: Conductor on the rise. 9 June 2017. Radio New Zealand. 7 May 2015. 7 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180207131359/https://www.radionz.co.nz/concert/programmes/upbeat/audio/201753445/gemma-new-music-director. live.
  6. Web site: Gemma New (2018) – Samuel Marsden Collegiate School Karori – MyMarsden. 18 May 2021. marsden.ultranet.school.nz. 18 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518054314/http://marsden.ultranet.school.nz/Web/7434/. live.
  7. News: Canterbury graduate and rising young conductor . University of Canterbury News . Kip Brook . 22 July 2014 . 2 October 2018 . 3 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181003062026/https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/news/2014/canterbury-graduate-and-rising-young-conductor-.html . live .
  8. News: Chasing rainbows: Gemma New, Kiwi conductor-turned-Jersey Girl, aims for more NJSO magic at Giralda, June 22 . Morristown Green . Kevin Coughlin . 22 June 2014 . 2 October 2018 . 3 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181003063435/https://morristowngreen.com/2014/06/22/chasing-rainbows-gemma-new-kiwi-conductor-turned-jersey-girl-aims-for-more-njso-magic-at-giralda-june-22/ . live .
  9. News: Rising Star: SLSO's Gemma New makes music 'a holistic experience' . Saint Louis Post-Dispatch . Sarah Bryan Miller . 25 August 2016 . 3 May 2017 . 17 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170617230959/http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/music/rising-star-slso-s-gemma-new-makes-music-a-holistic/article_b4906329-ac78-5299-87bb-1fd4d87174f5.html . live .
  10. News: Classical Music: NJSO performing this weekend . Times of Trenton . Ross Amico . 5 October 2016 . 2 October 2018 . 3 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181003062016/https://www.nj.com/times-entertainment/index.ssf/2016/10/classical_music_njso_performin_1.html . live .
  11. HPO extends Gemma New's contract until 2021 . 23 May 2017 . Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra . 2 October 2018 . 3 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181003112400/http://hpo.org/hpo-extends-gemma-news-contract-until-2021/ . live .
  12. Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra announces the extension of Gemma New's contract through 2024 . 12 November 2020 . Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra . 17 November 2020 . 23 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201123154757/https://hpo.org/hamilton-philharmonic-orchestra-announces-the-extension-of-gemma-news-contract-through-2024/ . live .
  13. HPO Announces Music Directors Departure . Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra . 4 November 2023 . 2023-06-04.
  14. News: SLSO appoints Gemma New as resident conductor . Saint Louis Post-Dispatch . Sarah Bryan Miller . 2 June 2016 . 2 May 2017 . 10 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161010042927/http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/culture-club/slso-appoints-gemma-new-as-resident-conductor/article_1357a9af-3906-58e3-9a18-00f0b8d64532.html . live .
  15. News: Music review: A great start for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's new season . Saint Louis Post-Dispatch . Sarah Bryan Miller . 23 September 2018 . 2 October 2018 . 24 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180924121257/https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/culture-club/music-review-a-great-start-for-the-st-louis-symphony/article_e5a82259-abf8-5ee4-80b9-548548687083.html . live .
  16. Web site: As Her Tenure Concludes, Gemma New Reflects On Her Time As SLSO Resident Conductor . SLSO Stories . 13 May 2020 . 17 November 2020 . 4 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201204142935/https://www.slsostories.org/post/gemma-new-reflects . live .
  17. Gemma New Named Principal Guest Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra . Dallas Symphony Orchestra . 17 October 2018 . 18 October 2018 . 19 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181019075745/https://www.mydso.com/about-the-dso/press-room/press-releases/principal-guest-conductor . live .
  18. Dallas Symphony Orchestra announces the contract extensions of Gemma New, Principal Guest Conductor (Dolores G. & Lawrence S. Barzune, M.D. Chair) and Angélica Negrón, Composer-in-Residence . Dallas Symphony Orchestra . 2021-12-17 . 2024-05-24.
  19. Web site: Fallon . Virginia . 26 February 2022 . Breaking the brass ceiling: NZSO appoints first woman principal conductor in 75 years . 26 February 2022 . Stuff . en . 26 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220226193308/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/127866120/breaking-the-brass-ceiling-nzso-appoints-first-woman-principal-conductor-in-75-years . live .
  20. Web site: Norman . Cushla . Reporter . 1News . National orchestra has female conductor for first time in 75 years . 2022-08-09 . 1 News . en.
  21. The Solti Foundation U.S. announces the twelfth recipient of The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award . The Solti Foundation U.S. . March 2021 . 10 March 2021 . 11 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210311044945/http://soltifoundation.us/approaching-20th-anniversary-the-solti-foundation-u-s-announces-the-tenth-recipient-of-the-sir-georg-solti-conducting-award/ . live .
  22. Web site: 9 March 2021. New Zealand Born Conductor Gemma New Recipient Of 2021 Solti Fellow. live. 5 May 2021. www.scoop.co.nz. 13 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210413210032/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU2103/S00087/new-zealand-born-conductor-gemma-new-recipient-of-2021-solti-fellow.htm.
  23. News: King’s Birthday Honours 2024: The full list of all recipients . 3 June 2024 . . 3 June 2024.

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