{{Short description|New Zealand conductor (born 1986)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{infobox musical artist | name = Gemma New | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM|size=100%}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1986|12|27}} | birth_place = Wellington, New Zealand | birth_name = Gemma Elizabeth New | image = Gemma New in 2020 (a).jpg | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = Gemma New conducts the National Symphony Orchestra | caption = | occupation = Conductor, composer | instrument = Violin, piano | associated_acts = Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra<br>Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra<br>St. Louis Symphony Orchestra<br>Dallas Symphony Orchestra<br>New Zealand Symphony Orchestra | website = {{URL|www.gemmanew.com}} }} '''Gemma Elizabeth New''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM|size=85%}} (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,<ref name="Turnevicius20160207">{{cite news | url=http://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/6267305-hpo-s-new-music-director-makes-her-debut-and-it-was-worth-waiting-for/ | title=HPO's new music director makes her debut – and it was worth waiting for | work=Hamilton Spectator | author=Leonard Turnevicius | date=7 February 2016 | accessdate=3 May 2017 | archive-date=25 October 2017 | archive-url=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/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/6864710-snap-crackle-and-pop-gemma-new-and-hpo-light-up-hamilton-place/ | title=Snap, crackle and pop: Gemma New and HPO light up Hamilton Place | work=Hamilton Spectator | author=Leonard Turnevicius | date=18 September 2016 | accessdate=3 May 2017 | archive-date=22 July 2018 | archive-url=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/ | url-status=live }}</ref> New began violin studies at age 5, and piano lessons at age 8.<ref name="craggs">{{cite news | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/gemma-new-of-hamilton-philharmonic-is-1-of-continent-s-few-female-conductors-1.3137925 | title=Gemma New of Hamilton Philharmonic is 1 of continent's few female conductors | work=CBC News | author=Samantha Craggs | date=4 July 2015 | accessdate=2 May 2017 | archive-date=14 November 2016 | archive-url=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 | url-status=live }}</ref> By age 12, she was playing in a youth orchestra in Wellington.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2016/03/06/conductor-gemma-new-breaking-brass-ceiling-in-steeltown.html | title=Conductor Gemma New breaking brass ceiling in Steeltown | work=The Star | author=Paul Hunter | date=6 March 2016 | accessdate=3 May 2017 | archive-date=19 May 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519000736/https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2016/03/06/conductor-gemma-new-breaking-brass-ceiling-in-steeltown.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="RNZ profile">{{cite news|title=Gemma New: Conductor on the rise|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/concert/programmes/upbeat/audio/201753445/gemma-new-music-director|accessdate=9 June 2017|work=Radio New Zealand|date=7 May 2015|archive-date=7 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207131359/https://www.radionz.co.nz/concert/programmes/upbeat/audio/201753445/gemma-new-music-director|url-status=live}}</ref> As a teenager, she conducted the Christchurch Youth Orchestra. New attended Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, in Karori, Wellington, from 1991 to 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gemma New (2018) – Samuel Marsden Collegiate School Karori – MyMarsden|url=http://marsden.ultranet.school.nz/Web/7434/|access-date=18 May 2021|website=marsden.ultranet.school.nz|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518054314/http://marsden.ultranet.school.nz/Web/7434/|url-status=live}}</ref>
New read physics, mathematics, and music at the University of Canterbury, from which she graduated with a degree in music.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/news/2014/canterbury-graduate-and-rising-young-conductor-.html | title=Canterbury graduate and rising young conductor | work=University of Canterbury News | author=Kip Brook | date=22 July 2014 | accessdate=2 October 2018 | archive-date=3 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003062026/https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/news/2014/canterbury-graduate-and-rising-young-conductor-.html | url-status=live }}</ref> She later earned a graduate degree in music from Baltimore, Maryland's Peabody Institute.<ref name="craggs"/>
== Career == New founded and directed the Maryland music collective Lunar Ensemble, with which she has premiered 26 compositions.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://morristowngreen.com/2014/06/22/chasing-rainbows-gemma-new-kiwi-conductor-turned-jersey-girl-aims-for-more-njso-magic-at-giralda-june-22/ | title=Chasing rainbows: Gemma New, Kiwi conductor-turned-Jersey Girl, aims for more NJSO magic at Giralda, June 22 | work=Morristown Green | author=Kevin Coughlin | date=22 June 2014 | accessdate=2 October 2018 | archive-date=3 October 2018 | archive-url=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/ | url-status=live }}</ref> New was assistant conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra from 2011 to 2016.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/music/rising-star-slso-s-gemma-new-makes-music-a-holistic/article_b4906329-ac78-5299-87bb-1fd4d87174f5.html | title=Rising Star: SLSO's Gemma New makes music 'a holistic experience' | work=Saint Louis Post-Dispatch | author=Sarah Bryan Miller | date=25 August 2016 | accessdate=3 May 2017 | archive-date=17 June 2017 | archive-url=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 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nj.com/times-entertainment/index.ssf/2016/10/classical_music_njso_performin_1.html | title=Classical Music: NJSO performing this weekend | work=Times of Trenton | author=Ross Amico | date=5 October 2016 | accessdate=2 October 2018 | archive-date=3 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003062016/https://www.nj.com/times-entertainment/index.ssf/2016/10/classical_music_njso_performin_1.html | url-status=live }}</ref> In the 2014–2015 season, she was a Dudamel Conducting Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.<ref name=craggs /> 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.<ref name="craggs"/> This appointment marked New's first music directorship. Her first performance in the post was in February 2016.<ref name="Turnevicius20160207"/> In May 2017, the HPO extended New's contract as music director through the 2020–2021 season.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://hpo.org/hpo-extends-gemma-news-contract-until-2021/ | title=HPO extends Gemma New's contract until 2021 | date=23 May 2017 | publisher=Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra | accessdate=2 October 2018 | archive-date=3 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003112400/http://hpo.org/hpo-extends-gemma-news-contract-until-2021/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2020, the HPO announced a further extension of New's contract as music director through the 2023–2024 season.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://hpo.org/hamilton-philharmonic-orchestra-announces-the-extension-of-gemma-news-contract-through-2024/ | title=Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra announces the extension of Gemma New's contract through 2024 | date=12 November 2020 | publisher=Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra | accessdate=17 November 2020 | archive-date=23 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123154757/https://hpo.org/hamilton-philharmonic-orchestra-announces-the-extension-of-gemma-news-contract-through-2024/ | url-status=live }}</ref> New concluded her HPO tenure at the close of the 2023-2024 season.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.hpo.org/news_item/hpo-announces-music-directors-departure/ | title=HPO Announces Music Directors Departure | publisher=Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra | date=4 November 2023 | accessdate=2023-06-04}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/culture-club/slso-appoints-gemma-new-as-resident-conductor/article_1357a9af-3906-58e3-9a18-00f0b8d64532.html | title=SLSO appoints Gemma New as resident conductor | work=Saint Louis Post-Dispatch | author=Sarah Bryan Miller | date=2 June 2016 | accessdate=2 May 2017 | archive-date=10 October 2016 | archive-url=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 | url-status=live }}</ref> In September 2018, New directed the opening concerts of the SLSO's 2018–2019 season, the first female conductor ever to do so.<ref>{{cite news | url=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 | title=Music review: A great start for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's new season | work=Saint Louis Post-Dispatch | author=Sarah Bryan Miller | date=23 September 2018 | accessdate=2 October 2018 | archive-date=24 September 2018 | archive-url=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 | url-status=live }}</ref> She stood down from her St. Louis posts at the close of the 2019–2020 season.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.slsostories.org/post/gemma-new-reflects | title=As Her Tenure Concludes, Gemma New Reflects On Her Time As SLSO Resident Conductor | work=SLSO Stories | author= | date=13 May 2020 | accessdate=17 November 2020 | archive-date=4 December 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204142935/https://www.slsostories.org/post/gemma-new-reflects | url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.mydso.com/about-the-dso/press-room/press-releases/principal-guest-conductor | title=Gemma New Named Principal Guest Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra | publisher=Dallas Symphony Orchestra | date=17 October 2018 | accessdate=18 October 2018 | archive-date=19 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019075745/https://www.mydso.com/about-the-dso/press-room/press-releases/principal-guest-conductor | url-status=live }}</ref> She served in the post through the 2022–2023 season.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.dallassymphony.org/discover-connect/dso-vault/read/press-releases/dallas-symphony-orchestra-announces-the-contract-extensions-of-gemma-new-principal-guest-conductor-dolores-g-lawrence-s-barzune-m-d-chair-and-angelica-negron-composer-in-residence/ | title=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 | publisher=Dallas Symphony Orchestra | date=2021-12-17 | access-date=2024-05-24}}</ref>
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) appointed New as its artistic adviser and principal conductor in 2022, the first woman to hold the posts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fallon |first=Virginia |date=26 February 2022 |title=Breaking the brass ceiling: NZSO appoints first woman principal conductor in 75 years |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/127866120/breaking-the-brass-ceiling-nzso-appoints-first-woman-principal-conductor-in-75-years |access-date=26 February 2022 |website=Stuff |language=en |archive-date=26 February 2022 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Norman |first1=Cushla |title=National orchestra has female conductor for first time in 75 years |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/09/national-orchestra-has-female-conductor-for-first-time-in-75-years/ |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=1 News |language=en}}</ref> She is scheduled to stand down from both NZSO posts in 2027, and subsequently to take the title of artistic partner with the NZSO.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://limelight-arts.com.au/news/nzso-announces-new-music-director/ | work=Limelight Magazine | author=Jason Blake | title=NZSO announces new Music Director | date=2025-06-23 | access-date=2025-06-24}}</ref>
New is represented by Charlotte Lee at Primo Artists.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Primo Artists |url=https://www.primoartists.com/ |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=Primo Artists |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Honours and awards == [[File:Gemma New ONZM investiture.jpg|thumb|right|New (left), after her investiture as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit by the governor-general, Dame Cindy Kiro, at Government House, Wellington, on 10 September 2024]] In March 2021, the Solti Foundation U.S. announced New as the 12th recipient of The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://soltifoundation.us/approaching-20th-anniversary-the-solti-foundation-u-s-announces-the-tenth-recipient-of-the-sir-georg-solti-conducting-award/ | title=The Solti Foundation U.S. announces the twelfth recipient of The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award | publisher=The Solti Foundation U.S. | date=March 2021 | accessdate=10 March 2021 | archive-date=11 March 2021 | archive-url=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/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|last2=|first2=|last3=|first3=|date=9 March 2021|title=New Zealand Born Conductor Gemma New Recipient Of 2021 Solti Fellow|url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU2103/S00087/new-zealand-born-conductor-gemma-new-recipient-of-2021-solti-fellow.htm|url-status=live|access-date=5 May 2021|website=www.scoop.co.nz|archive-date=13 April 2021|archive-url=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}}</ref>
In the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours, New was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to music direction.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/kings-birthday-honours-2024-the-full-list-of-all-recipients/P4L54KE5MVCIHIMAJN3LOR335E/ |title=King’s Birthday Honours 2024: The full list of all recipients |date=3 June 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=3 June 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.gemmanew.com/ Official website of Gemma New] *[https://www.dr.dk/CMS/ARKIVP2/default.drxml?*UR=malko/Malko2012/Engelsk/The_candidates/20120410220457.htmtrace=rt3 DR (Danish Radio), Nikolai Malko Conducting Competition, 2012 page on Gemma New]
{{s-start}} {{s-culture}} {{succession box | title=Music Director, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra | before=James Sommerville | years=2015–2024 | after=James S. Kahane}} {{succession box | title=Principal Conductor, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra | before=Edo de Waart (music director) | years=2022–present | after=incumbent}} {{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:New, Gemma}} Category:Living people Category:1986 births Category:New Zealand women conductors (music) Category:University of Canterbury alumni Category:Peabody Institute alumni Category:Musicians from Wellington City Category:21st-century New Zealand conductors (music) Category:21st-century New Zealand women musicians Category:New Zealand emigrants to the United States Category:Conductors of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Category:Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit