Alan Gilbert's musical journey began at a young age, with his parents teaching him to play the violin and viola. He later attended Harvard University, where he studied composition, and the New England Conservatory of Music, where he honed his skills on the violin. Gilbert's academic pursuits continued at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and the Juilliard School of Music, where he earned degrees in violin and composition.
After completing his studies, Gilbert embarked on a career as a violinist and violist, joining the Philadelphia Orchestra for two years before becoming the second concertmaster of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra in 1993. His talent and dedication earned him top honors, including the Concours de Genève in the "Orchestra Conducting" category in 1994.
Gilbert's career as a conductor took off in the late 1990s, when he served as assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra under the direction of Christoph von Dohnányi. In 2000, he became the chief conductor and artistic advisor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, leading the orchestra to great acclaim.
As a guest conductor, Gilbert has worked with some of the world's most renowned orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Hamburg NDR Symphony Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. His refreshing approach to conducting has earned him widespread critical acclaim, with many praising his ability to bring new life to classic works.
In 2008, Gilbert resigned from his post as chief conductor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, but continued to work as a guest conductor. He made his debut at the Vienna State Opera with a production of Georg Bizet's opera "Carmen" and went on to become the principal guest conductor of the Hamburg NDR Symphony Orchestra.
In 2009, Gilbert was appointed the principal conductor of the New York Philharmonic, succeeding Lorin Maazel. He was praised for his innovative approach to conducting and his ability to bring new energy to the orchestra. Gilbert's recordings have been nominated for Grammy Awards, and he has received widespread critical acclaim for his interpretations of Mahler's symphonies.
In addition to his work as a conductor, Gilbert has also been recognized for his contributions to music education. In 2010, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, and in 2011, he was appointed Director of Conducting and Orchestral Studies at the Juilliard School.
