Jahja Ling
About this Artist
Jahja Ling’s distinguished long career as an internationally renowned conductor has earned him an exceptional reputation for musical integrity, intensity and expressivity. He has conducted all of the major symphony orchestras in North America including Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.
Mr. Ling is universally praised for his work in building the San Diego Symphony Orchestra from post-bankruptcy state into one of the top tier major orchestra during his 13 year tenure from 2003 to 2017. He has appointed more than 70 new musicians from all over the world to form this remarkable ensemble and together they have collaborated with world's greatest soloists. In October of 2013, Mr. Ling led the orchestra in their first historical sold out appearance at Carnegie Hall, followed by their first international tour to China where they appeared Yantai, Shanghai and Beijing. Together they have recorded works for Telarc Records and Naxos, and eight other CDs on the orchestra's own label. The Orchestra has named him their first Conductor Laureate in its history.
Mr. Ling holds one of the longest continuous relationships with one of the world’s greatest orchestras, The Cleveland Orchestra, beginning in 1984 and continuing for 38 seasons, having conducted about 600 concerts to millions of audience. The U.S. House of Representatives presented a Congressional Record of his outstanding achievements with this ensemble in the U.S. Capitol in September 2006. Mr. Ling also served as Music Director of The Florida Orchestra (1988-2002), Artistic Director of the Taiwan Philharmonic/NSO (1998-2001), and Assistant and Associate Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony(1981-83). As music director of the Florida Orchestra, Mr. Ling was the first classical music conductor ever invited to conduct at a Super Bowl where he conducted Whitney Houston in the legendary national anthem at Super Bowl XXV. It was televised to 750 million viewers worldwide and their recording went platinum. Deeply committed to education, Mr. Ling served as founding Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (1986-1993), the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra (1981-84), and served as the Director of Tanglewood/BU Young Artists Orchestra during 1983 and 1984 seasons.
Mr. Ling made his European debut with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in 1988 and has subsequently appeared with orchestras in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Copenhagen, Guangzhou, Hamburg, Hongkong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Leipzig, London, Montreal, Osaka, Singapore, Stockholm, Shanghai, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo and Vancouver among others. Jahja Ling’s recording with Scottish Chamber Orchestra was nominated for a Grammy® Award.
Mr. Ling began playing piano at the age of four under the tutelage of Suzy Djoeandy and Rudy Laban. He studied piano with Mieczyslaw Munz and conducting with John Nelson at Juilliard where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Mr. Ling continued his conducting study at Yale School of Music where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts under Otto Werner Mueller. He was awarded the Leonard Bernstein Conducting Fellowship at Tanglewood Music Center and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute under Mr. Bernstein. Mr. Ling recently received the Bravo Classical Music Icon Lifetime Achievement Award from San Diego County for his contribution to enriching the cultural life of San Diego.