Gemma New, principal conductor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and music director of Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, made a surprise debut with the Grant Park Orchestra in 2017 stepping in for Simone Young on short notice.
She returned to the podium at Grant Park in 2018. She was ready to lead the orchestra for a third time on July 12 when a rare tornado warning forced the last-minute cancellation of the concert. This winter, New debuts with Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and WFMT is pleased to share her Proms debut leading the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra from earlier this summer.