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Gemma New's SPAC Debut

Conductor Gemma New
spac.org
Conductor Gemma New

Rising star New Zealand conductor Gemma New makes her SPAC debut
with The Philadelphia Orchestra in music of Gershwin, Ravel, Price and Montgomery. GRAMMY Award-winning pianist Michelle Cann also makes her SPAC debut on the program. We spoke with New about the music and her path to conducting.

https://spac.org/events/philadelphia-orchestra-gershwins-an-american-in-paris/

MontgomeryStrum, for string orchestra*
Ravel Piano Concerto in G major 
Price Piano Concerto in One Movement 
Gershwin An American in Paris 

Gershwin’s An American in Paris
The Philadelphia Orchestra & Michelle Cann
Gemma New, conductor

Thursday • Aug 20, 2026 • 7:30pm

Rob Brown comes from a musical family. His mother played piano and taught in this area for nearly 30 years. One uncle is a composer and brass player, one aunt is a professional accompanist and recitalist. And his grandfather had a record collection to rival WMHT’s. He started at WMHT as an intern in 1996. His first job was to go through the stacks of vinyl to make sure they were filed properly. He’s now the Music Director and is thrilled to continue in the “family business” and share more of our very favorite classical music from 1-4 every weekday and 11-3 on Sundays.