Gemma New

Gemma New’s role as the NZSO’s Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor is kindly supported by the NZSO Foundation – which is made possible by the extraordinary generosity of the Orchestra’s donors.‍

Known for her “unique sensitivity anda heightened attention to detail and texture” (The Washington Post) and“programming prowess” (Vancouver Sun), New Zealand-born Gemma New (ONZM)is Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor of the New Zealand SymphonyOrchestra, and a highly sought-after guest conductor worldwide. She is therecipient of the prestigious 2021 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award and wasappointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2024.

Highlights of New’s 2026/2027 seasoninclude her debuts with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Danish NationalSymphony Orchestra, Berlin Staatskapelle, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, andwith Bayerische Staatsoper leading a production of John Adams’ Doctor Atomic.She makes returns with The Hallé, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, NationalArts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the JuilliardOrchestra, and a production of Rossini’s Cenerentola with Opera TheatreSt. Louis.

In her fifth season as ArtisticAdvisor and Principal Conductor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Newconducts performances across the country, featuring Mahler Symphony No. 1,Elgar’s Enigma Variations, and Beethoven Symphony No. 9, collaboratingwith violinist James Ehnes and pianist Sir Stephen Hough, and leading the NewZealand premieres of Thomas Adès’, The Origin of the Harp and GabrielaOrtiz’s Antrópolis. The NZSO will also feature works by New Zealandcomposers Gillian Whitehead and Ross Harris, who will receive a World Premiere.

Among her recent season highlights,New made debuts with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra,City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, BelgianNational Orchestra, SWR Sinfonieorchester, and with Houston Grand Opera leadinga production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. Summer 2026 highlightsincluded the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, andthe Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl.

2023/2024 marked New’s ninth andfinal season as Music Director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra inOntario, Canada. She previously served as Principal Guest Conductor of theDallas Symphony Orchestra with other previous posts including ResidentConductor of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor of theNew Jersey Symphony. As a Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Fellow, she studiedMendelssohn’s music with Kurt Masur in Leipzig and led the Leipziger Symphonieorchester.A former Dudamel Conducting Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic andConducting Fellow at Tanglewood Music Center, she was awarded Solti FoundationU.S. Career Assistance Awards in 2017, 2019 and 2020, before receiving the 2021Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award.

‍