Jahja Ling (Chinese: 林望傑; pinyin: Lín Wàng-jié) is a conductor, music director and pianist.
At Juilliard he earned a master's degree, studied piano with Mieczyslaw Munz and conducting with John Nelson.
He and the SFSYO were selected to perform for Queen Elizabeth II while on a State visit to San Francisco in 1983.
From 1985 to 2002, he served as Resident Conductor, leading the orchestra in over 400 concerts and over 600 works at Severance Hall, the annual Blossom Festival, and while on tour.
During his tenure as Resident Conductor, Ling led the Orchestra's annual concert in downtown Cleveland, heard by more than a million people since first presented in 1990.
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.
Also released is a special edition CD featuring Mr. Ling and the Cleveland Orchestra performing Saint-Saëns' Symphony No.
In April 1977, he was awarded the Bronze Medal in the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition (Jerusalem, Israel).
Subsequently, he was selected by Leonard Bernstein, who became one of his most influential mentors, to be a Conducting Fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute.
[3] In 1991 he has been nominated for the Grammy Award for his Telarc CD Recording with Rolf Smedvig and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Jahja Ling also a key person to STEMI (Stephen Tong Evangelical Ministries International), and work closely with Rev.
[11] Last year, he made the announcement at a meeting with the board of directors, staff and musicians that he planned to leave the organization after the 2016-17 season.
He said, "After the 2016-17 season, I look forward to pursuing more international guest conducting, passing on the great musical traditions to the next generation through teach and continuing with my volunteer work in the Christian mission.