A Q&A with next President & CEO Gabriel van Aalst
Tell us about your background and experiences.
Firstly, it’s worth mentioning that I’m originally from Sydney, Australia, but for the last five years I have been living in London, where I worked with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, one of the world’s great chamber orchestras, led by Music Director Joshua Bell.
Whilst the Orchestra is based in London, the Academy tours around the world every year. During my time with them, the Orchestra has performed on every continent apart from Africa and Antarctica. These tours even included memorable concerts at New Jersey’s own NJPAC.
How did you transition from becoming a performer to an administrator?
I have always been passionate about the arts and music in particular. Whilst I studied law (and filmmaking) at university it was my experience representing the musicians of the Sydney Youth Orchestra on their board that really made me aware that it was possible to have a non-performance career in music.
Once I had started gaining experience in arts administration I quickly realized that this was my passion. From the SYO I was lucky enough to gain experience working on a number of musicals including the Australian productions of The Producers and The Lion King. In turn, this lead me to Andrew McKinnon Presentations, where I began producing concerts and theater tours around Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
From there I joined the Australian Chamber Orchestra as their Orchestra Manager, where my passion for classical music and burgeoning career in arts management reunited.
What attracted you to the NJSO, and what are your aspirations for its future?
I was first attracted to the NJSO because of the incredible music making and the Orchestra’s commitment to the community across the Garden State. Additionally, the recent appointment of Xian Zhang as the Orchestra’s new Music Director made the position irresistible to me.
I plan on supporting Xian’s musical vision and in the process engaging and inspiring audiences across the state through the Orchestra’s mainstage concerts, as well as the fantastic education and community engagement programs.
You join the NJSO at an exciting time, with a new music director and new board leadership. What unique opportunities does this present?
Moments of change, such as these, provide a unique opportunity to reflect on what has worked in the past and, with a dash of fresh perspective, use that as a springboard for growth. I look forward to working closely with Xian, our new Board Co-Chairs Linda Bowden and Dave Huber, the Board, staff and, of course, the fantastic musicians of the Orchestra as we build on the incredible work that has brought this Orchestra to new artistic heights and strengthened its standing in the field. With the Orchestra’s 100th anniversary coming up in just a few seasons, it is certainly an exciting time to be joining the NJSO.
You have led the Academy of St Martin in the Fields as it has toured the world. How will you translate that experience to the NJSO—a traveling state orchestra with roots in its communities?
One of the many joys of working at ASMF was getting to know the audiences that supported the Orchestra not just in London but across the globe. Just like the NJSO, the Academy also has regular residencies in a number of cities. In the case of ASMF this was Paris, Munich and, more recently, Vail, Colorado. It has been incredible to witness firsthand how all audiences have their own character that should be tailored to and cherished.
Through my travels, what became abundantly clear is that classical music has the ability to speak to people from all backgrounds and communities. I look forward to meeting NJSO audiences across the Garden State and celebrating the shared love of music that unites us.
How do you view the Orchestra’s role in the culture of New Jersey?
I believe that it is the responsibility of the Orchestra to enrich the artistic life of New Jersey and provide access to the highest level of music making to audiences of all backgrounds. The Orchestra should engage with communities from across the state not just on the concert platform but also through our brilliant education and community engagement programs.
Further afield, it is important that the Orchestra should act as a cultural icon representing the state on the national and international stage as a beacon of artistic excellence.
How can the Orchestra balance the preferences of patrons who enjoy the traditional concert experience with the need to bring in new audiences?
It is vital that the Orchestra is able to provide a dynamic set of programs that excite and engage audiences of all backgrounds and interests whilst working with the finest artistic talent. This could be through our mainstage classical season or our pops and parks concerts. Artistic excellence has to be at the heart of everything that the Orchestra performs whilst providing programs for every taste and allow the audiences of New Jersey to experience the thrill and excitement that comes from experiencing a live performance.
What opportunities does the NJSO have to become more of a leader in the orchestral world?
The appointment of Xian as the new Music Director of the NJSO was a real coup for the Orchestra and one that drew positive international attention. I’m tremendously excited to witness her first season, and I’m sure that the wider orchestral world is as well. Under her guidance, the Orchestra has the opportunity to carve out its position as an artistic leader through creative programming, inviting fantastic guest artists and collaborations with other arts organizations.
Education and community engagement programs are a hallmark of the NJSO and a key part of the Orchestra’s mission. What makes these programs so important?
The NJSO boasts education and community engagement programs that are truly meaningful to their participants and audiences across the state. It’s absolutely vital that the Orchestra gives back to the community. I’m excited that we are involved in training the next generation of musicians, as well as providing access to classical music to those who would otherwise never get to experience the wonder of the live musical experience.
The NJSO Youth Orchestras just celebrated their 25th season and are an incredible source of pride for the NJSO family, and the NJSO CHAMPS program brings the best of El Sistema to New Jersey. Personally, I’m particularly excited about #OrchestraYou, one of our NJSO Accent audience-engagement events—you might even see me sitting in the violin section next time!
In today’s digital world, why is the live orchestral experience still essential?
There’s something incredibly exciting about going to a live performance at a concert hall. You’re there, watching the musicians, feeling the energy and feeding off of it—feeding off of what’s coming from Xian and the Orchestra on stage. It’s really like nothing else. It’s something that you can share with your friends and your family, and that, in particular, is something that you can’t do with a recording.