Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur, and Zubin Mehta. He was the first New York City-born conductor to be named music director of the New York Philharmonic. For his inaugural 2009/10 Philharmonic season, Gilbert introduced a number of new initiatives, including the presence of Composer-in-Residence Magnus Lindberg and Artist-in-Residence Thomas Hampson. The festivals and tours he introduced include CONTACT – the Philharmonic's new-music series; and a major tour of Asia and the Middle East in October 2009, with debuts in Hanoi and Abu Dhabi. In February 2015, the orchestra announced the scheduled conclusion of Gilbert's tenure as music director at the end of the 2016–2017 season. Additional work Gilbert was principal conductor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra from 2000 to 2008. He now has the title of conductor laureate with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic. From 2004 through 2015, he was principal guest conductor of the NDR Symphony Orchestra. He made his Metropolitan Opera conducting debut in November 2008 with John Adams' opera, Doctor Atomic. Gilbert is the first person to hold the William Schuman chair in Musical Studies at the Juilliard School. The position includes coaching, conducting, and performance master classes. Gilbert assumed the post in the fall of 2009. In June 2017, the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra (formerly the NDR Symphony Orchestra) announced the appointment of Gilbert as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2019–2020 season, with an initial contract of 5 seasons. He had the title of chief conductor-designate from 2017 until his 2019 advent. In February 2023, the orchestra announced the extension of Gilbert's contract as chief conductor through the summer of 2029. In 2012, Gilbert made his first conducting appearance with the Royal Swedish Opera. In January 2020, the Royal Swedish Opera announced the appointment of Gilbert as its next music director, effective in the spring of 2021. Personal life In 2002, Gilbert married Swedish cellist Kajsa William-Olsson, a member of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. They have three children, Lia, Noemi, and Esra. The family has residences in both New York City and Sweden. References External links IMG Artists agency page on Alan Gilbert "Young Conductor at Home with N.Y. Philharmonic." All Things Considered (NPR), 2007 Classical Archives Interview 21st-century American conductors (music) American male conductors (music) Ethical Culture Fieldston School alumni Music directors (opera) American classical musicians of Japanese descent Harvard University alumni Juilliard School alumni Curtis Institute of Music alumni 1967 births Living people