In 2018, she became the youngest soloist to perform at the Last Night of the Proms. She's also the youngest ever presenter on BBC Radio 3 (the UK's version of RNZ Concert).
But in her first ever concerts with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Jess Gillam is stepping well outside her comfort zone by stepping into the orchestra.
When it comes time for the sublime sax solo that punctuates the first movement of Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances, the notes will come from Gillam seated in the orchestra's wind section - probably next to the bass clarinet.
Rachmaninov's last orchestral work is the final item on the programme, which will also see Gillam starring at the front of the stage playing Scaramouche by Darius Milhaud, and Glazunov's Saxophone Concerto.
But Gillam says sitting with the orchestra will be the biggest challenge.
The 27-year-old from Cumbria in England's northwest spoke to RNZ Concert's Bryan Crump ahead of her two performances with the NZSO, first in Wellington, then in Christchurch.
Photo: Clarissa Dunn / RNZ
Gillam credits New Zealand conductor Gemma New with persuading her to play the Rachmaninov sax solo: "she always has great programming ideas".
Crump suggests it's also a big favour on Gillam's part - having already performed two solo roles front of stage, she's given up a chance to hit the town after the interval by joining the orchestra instead.
Gillam insists nipping out on the town after the interval was never the plan. "I would never do that on a concert week," she laughs.
Gillam says she loves sneaking into the auditorium and listening to the second half of a concert, even if her soloist job is done for the night.
Only this time, once she's played the solo role in the Symphonic Dances, she gets to enjoy the orchestra sitting right in the middle of it.
We reckon it'll be worth going to the concert just for Gillam's symphonic sax solo alone.
