Joshua Gersen most recently appeared with the North Carolina Symphony in May, 2021, conducting Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 and Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 19, which was performed by Orion Weiss. Previously he had led the orchestra both in Meymandi Concert Hall and at Summerfest in 2019, with music including Vivaldi's Four Seasons and Piazzolla's The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, featuring violinist Jennifer Frautschi. His debut with the Symphony was in 2018, when he conducted John Williams' score for Star Wars, accompanied by a screening of the 1977 film.

      A native of the New York area, Joshua Gersen recently concluded his tenure as Assistant Conductor of the New York Philharmonic. Previously he was Music Director of the New York Youth Symphony, where he led the orchestra on their first international tour in more than 50 seasons and conducted several world premieres.
      Gersen served as John S. and James L. Knight Foundation conducting fellow with the New World Symphony. He made his debut with the San Francisco Symphony in 2013 and has been invited back numerous times. 
      Also a composer, Gersen holds degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music. His awards include a 2015 and 2016 Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance award.