Gabriel van Aalst, who has led the New Jersey Symphony since 2016, announced earlier this week that he is leaving the orchestra at the end of the summer, heading to Dayton Live, a performing arts presenter and venue in Dayton, Ohio. He began his tenure the same season as Music Director Xian Zhang, and under their leadership, the orchestra expanded its programs to reach new audiences, introduced initiatives to bolster diversity on stage and in the audience, and celebrated the orchestra’s centennial during last year’s season. A Tempo host Rachel Katz this week chats with van Aalst about his time at the orchestra, including weathering Covid, and where the orchestra is poised to head now.
New Jersey Symphony CEO Announces Departure after Eight-Year Tenure
