Having conducted all of the major orchestras in the US and prominent orchestras in Europe and Asia, Jahja Ling's distinguished career as an internationally renowned conductor has earned him an exceptional reputation for musical integrity, intensity, and expressivity. Mr. Ling is in his fourth season as music director of the San Diego Symphony, where his work continues to receive the highest praise from the public and critics alike.
Since his acclaimed debut with The Cleveland Orchestra in 1985, Mr. Ling has conducted the orchestra in 23 consecutive seasons. He was a member of the conducting staff of The Cleveland Orchestra for 20 years, from 1984 to 2005. From 1985 to 2002, he served as Resident Conductor, leading the orchestra in over 400 concerts and over 550 works at Severance Hall, at the annual Blossom Festival, and on tour. During his tenure as Resident Conductor, Mr. Ling led the Orchestra's annual concert in downtown Cleveland, heard by more than a million people since first presented in 1990. For six seasons, from 2000 to 2005, he served with distinction as Blossom Festival Director. His telecast of "A Concert in Tribute and Remembrance" with the Orchestra for 9/11 received an Emmy Award.
Mr. Ling was named Music Director Laureate of the Florida Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan after he served as Music Director and Artistic Director with those respected organizations.
Acclaimed for his interpretation of works in the standard repertoire, he is also recognized for the breadth of contemporary music included in his programs. In May 2000, his debut performance with the St. Louis Symphony and cellist Yo-Yo Ma was featured on the ABC News program 20/20. Recent and upcoming guest conducting engagements include the symphony orchestras of Boston, Baltimore, Cleveland, Honolulu, Phoenix, Houston, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, Utah, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and the Aspen Music Festival. Abroad, he has recently appeared at the Tivoli Festival with the Copenhagen Philharmonic, with the Bochum Symphony in Germany, China Philharmonic in Beijing, Guangzhou Symphony, and the Singapore Symphony.
Mr. Ling's commitment to working with and developing young musicians is evident, having conducted the orchestras of the Aspen Festival, Curtis Institute of Music, and The Juilliard School, where he is a regular guest. Additionally, Mr. Ling served as founding Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra from 1986 to 1993.
Mr. Ling's recordings include a range of works on the Telarc, Azica Records, and Continuum labels, featuring performances with the Florida Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, one of which was nominated for a Grammy award. His performance of the world premiere of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's Third Symphony with the New York Philharmonic is included in the orchestra's "American Celebrations" collection.
Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, of Chinese descent and now a United States citizen, Mr. Ling began to play the piano at the age of four. He received his master's degree from The Juilliard School in piano performance, and his Doctor of Musical of Arts degree from Yale University School of Music, where he studied conducting with Otto Werner Mueller. In the summer of 1980, Mr. Ling was awarded the Leonard Bernstein Conducting Fellowship at Tanglewood, and Mr. Bernstein became one of the most influential mentors in his musical life.
