Artists / Faculties
Conductor: Maestro Jahja Ling
Jahja Ling’s distinguished career as an internationally renowned conductor has earned him an exceptional reputation for musical integrity, intensity and expressivity. The Indonesian-born maestro is the first and only conductor of Chinese descent who has conducted all of the major symphony orchestras in North America. He has also conducted the Royal Philharmonic of London, the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, China and Hong Kong Philharmonic, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Yomiuri Nippon Symphonies.
Ling is universally praised for his work and dedication of building the San Diego Symphony Orchestra from an orchestra of post-bankruptcy state into one of the top tier major orchestra during his 13 years tenure as music director since 2004, together they have collaborated with world’s greatest soloists such as Emanuel Ax, Joshua Bell, Yefim Bronfman, James Galway, Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Pepe Romero, and Gil Shaham, and have recorded new works of Bright Sheng for Telarc Records. The Orchestra has named him as their first Conductor Laureate in its history.
Ling holds a longstanding relationship with one of the world’s greatest orchestras, The Cleveland Orchestra, as Associate Conductor (1984-85), Resident Conductor (1985-2002), Blossom Festival Director (2000-05) and thereafter as regular guest conductor. During his 34 consecutive seasons with Cleveland, he has conducted over 550 concerts, including many world premiere performances, in addition to receiving an Emmy® Award, making him the conductor who has conducted the ensemble for the longest time in its 100-year history.
As Music Director of the Florida Orchestra (1988-2003), Jahja Ling was the first conductor ever invited to appear at the Superbowl (XXV in 1991) with Whitney Houston. He was also Music Director of the Taiwan Philharmonia (1998-2001) and named honourary conductor thereafter. In 2000, his performance with Yo-Yo Ma was featured on the ABC News program 20/20.
Ling has recorded for Telarc with the Royal Philharmonic, and two baroque albums with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (nominated for a Grammy® Award). He has also recorded albums with Florida Orchestra (Azica Records) and Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony with Cleveland Orchestra.
Deeply committed to education, Jahja Ling served as Assistant and Associate Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony, founding Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (1986-1993) and the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra (1981-1984), and has conducted the orchestras of Cleveland Institute of Music, Colburn, Curtis Institute, Juilliard, Yale, and the Aspen Music Festival, and has served as the Director of Tanglewood/Boston University Young Artists Orchestra. As a pianist, he has appeared as soloist with orchestras internationally.