San Diego Symphony Announces Renowned Conductor Jahja Ling As New Music Director; Culmination Of Two-Year International Search Sets Artistic Course for San Diego Symphony

Business Wire, April 18, 2003

Entertainment Editors

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2003

Ling's Appointment is the Latest Symphony Milestone Following Last

Year's Unprecedented Gift from Irwin and Joan Jacobs

The San Diego Symphony today announced the appointment of Jahja (pronounced YAH-ya) Ling as music director beginning in September 2004. Most recently, Ling appeared as guest conductor of the Symphony's Jacobs' Masterworks Series in January 2003. He resoundingly won over the musicians, search committee, the audience and critics with his masterful leadership of Mahler's Symphony No. 5.

Ling will begin his tenure as full-time music director beginning with the 2004 - 2005 season. As music director designate next season, he will conduct the February and May Jacobs' Masterworks Series concerts which will include Dvorak's Symphony No. 8 in G Major and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, respectively. The February concert also features the 2001 Van Cliburn Gold Medalist, pianist Olga Kern, while the May season finale welcomes pianist Horacio Gutierrez to the stage. In addition, Ling will oversee auditions to fill vacancies in the orchestra.

The announcement of Jahja Ling as music director culminates a two-year search and follows last year's landmark announcement that the Symphony had received the largest donation ever given to a symphony orchestra, generously bestowed by Irwin and Joan Jacobs in January 2002.

Ling will assume his position as San Diego's maestro as part of a distinguished career including his critically acclaimed tenure as director of The Cleveland Orchestra's prestigious Blossom Music Festival. He has also served as resident conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra for an unprecedented 18 years and currently is conductor laureate of The Florida Orchestra where he was music director for 14 years. He also served as artistic director of the National Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan.

Born in Jakarta, Indonesia of Chinese descent, Ling began his musical career at the young age of four when he started studying the piano. Ling attended The Julliard School where he was awarded a Rockefeller grant and received his Master's degree. In 1985, Ling was awarded a doctorate of musical arts degree from the Yale School of Music.

"I am very happy and excited to accept this appointment, and I feel privileged to have been chosen to lead the San Diego Symphony into a new era. This orchestra has the potential to develop into one of the great institutions in this country," states Ling. "I am eager to work with the musicians, management and the board of directors to offer diverse repertoire and great music-making that will touch people's lives. My wife, Jessie, and I love San Diego and are very much looking forward to making our new home here."

Ling has been a guest conductor of nearly all the major symphony orchestras throughout the country including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Internationally, Ling has led Germany's Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Berlin Radio Symphony, NDR Symphony Orchestra of Hamburg, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony and Yomiuri Symphony (Tokyo).

Douglas C. Gerhart, president and chief executive officer of the San Diego Symphony stated, "Copley Symphony Hall has become a vital cultural centerpiece of San Diego. Its rich history and promising future continues to be an invaluable place for our community to come together and celebrate the great music of our lives. And today, our beautiful hall is filled with excitement and anticipation as we roll out the red carpet and welcome our new music director, Jahja Ling."

The search for the music director was a combination of efforts. Many factors were considered in the selection process to find a music director who would inspire musicians and be able to impart an artistic vision for the orchestra. The search committee was also challenged to find a candidate with immediate rapport with the orchestra, a significant knowledge of a broad repertoire, professional leadership, a strong stage presence and imaginative programming. Mr. Ling has an impressive reputation in all of these areas and was the clear choice for the San Diego Symphony.

Dr. Warren Kessler, chairman of the Symphony Search Committee explained, "The choice of a music director comes along very few times in the history of an organization, and needs to be accomplished with a tremendous amount of care. The person cannot just have chemistry and a connection with one person; the music director must have a bond with every member of the orchestra, the respect and understanding of the board, and the undivided attention of the audience. Jahja clearly demonstrates all of the qualities and more."

Christoph von Dohnanyi, former music director of The Cleveland Orchestra and early mentor to Ling comments, "I am just so excited about the news -- this is a wonderful opportunity for both Jahja and for San Diego. He is not only one of the best trained conductors in this country, but also a truly remarkable person -- he has wonderful character, is a great human being and is a phenomenally musical individual."