“Inaugurating a program to appoint a succession of female principal guest conductors, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra has named New Zealander Gemma New the first woman to hold the revived title,” writes Scott Cantrell in Wednesday’s (10/18) Dallas Morning News. “She will conduct two weeks of concerts in the 2019-20 season and three weeks in 2020-21. Her 2019 appearances will coincide with the DSO’s inaugural Women in Classical Music Symposium. New … is currently music director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Ontario, Canada, resident conductor of the St. Louis Symphony and music director of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. With a particular affinity for contemporary music, she has created an innovative series in Hamilton combining works from the orchestral standard repertory with new scores, electronic indie music, lighting and visual art installations…. The search for the position was led by a committee of three DSO musicians, three board members, president and CEO Kim Noltemy, and Peter Czornyj, vice president of artistic operations. In consultation with music director-designate Fabio Luisi, they narrowed the search to five candidates… ‘Everyone was really enthralled with Gemma,’ Noltemy says…. ‘I think the audience here will love her.’ ”
Posted October 18, 2018
