Conductor Alan Gilbert Extends Contract with Germany's NDR Elbphilharmonie

The American conductor will remain the orchestra's Chief Conductor until the summer of 2029

Conductor Alan Gilbert is in his fourth season with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra in Hamburg Germany. With the contract extension, he will now serve as Chief Conductor through to the summer of 2029.

Previously the Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, Gilbert took up his position in Hamburg in 2019, having been the orchestra's principal guest conductor between 2004 and 2015. Since his arrival, Gilbert has introduced various new initiatives — such as the Age of Anxiety festival, which gives German audiences greater access to lesser-performed American music from the last 100 years. In addition, Gilbert spearheaded the Elbphilharmonie's Conducting Fellowship and introduced the Associate Artist scheme.

"It is with great joy that I announce the extension of my partnership with the brilliant musicians of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra until 2029," Gilbert said. "Making music with this incredible group has been an important part of my musical life since 2001. After more than 20 years together, our relationship is better than ever, and it feels as if we are just getting started!"

"We musicians at the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra are really looking forward to the next five years with our Chief Conductor Alan Gilbert," said Torsten Frank, a player in the orchestra and a member of the board. "We are absolutely convinced that the trust that has grown between us over the years and our mutual understanding of music will help us to achieve even more artistic feats."

Gilbert also serves as the Music Director of the Royal Swedish Opera, Conductor Laureate of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.

He has made guest appearances with orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Dresden Staatskapelle, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, among others.

In eight years as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, he initiated the positions of Marie-Josée Kravis Composer-in-Residence, Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence, and Artist-in-Association. From 2011 to 2018, Alan Gilbert served as Director of Conducting and Orchestral Studies at the Juilliard School, where he was also the first holder of Juilliard’s William Schuman Chair in Musical Studies.