“Gabriel van Aalst, chief executive of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (ASMF), has been announced as the new president and CEO of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, effective next October,” reports Susan Elliott in Thursday’s (6/30) Musical America (subscription required). “He succeeds Susan Stucker, who has been serving as interim since James Roe left in September to succeed Katy Clarke as president and CEO of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. The new man arrives concurrent with Xian Zhang’s first season as music director. He is a native Australian, largely educated there and in London. This marks his first stateside job. Van Aalst is credited with increasing ASMF’s activities and with growing its box-office receipts during his four years at the administrative helm. (Joshua Bell has been music director since 2011.) He is also said to have raised its profile, establishing new international ties as well as fostering community and education initiatives. NJSO Board Co-Chair David Huber made mention of his ‘passion for the art form and his genuine commitment to engaging with audiences and communities—a pillar of the NJSO mission.’ Zhang said she was impressed with his ‘deep musical knowledge.’ ”
Posted July 1, 2016
Gabriel van Aalst photo by Fred Stucker
