A New Zealand conductor of commanding presence and visionary artistry, Gemma New has emerged as one of the most compelling interpreters of contemporary music, combining rigorous classical training with an adventurous commitment to living composers.
Defining moments and milestones
From her debut at Carnegie Hall in 2013, Gemma New quickly distinguished herself as a conductor of exceptional clarity and contemporary sensibility, earning prestigious fellowships from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, and Aspen Music Festival. Her appointment as Principal Conductor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and her receipt of the 2021 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award marked her arrival among the world's leading interpreters of both canonical and cutting-edge repertoire. Today, she commands respect across opera houses and concert halls globally, known equally for her incisive Rossini and her championing of world premieres by composers such as Michael Gandolfi, Gabriella Smith, and Tabea Squire.
2021 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award
University of Canterbury (BM, Violin Performance); Peabody Institute, Baltimore (MM, Orchestral Conducting)
Recordings featuring Gemma New in the Society index
Additional recordings will appear here as the catalog expands.