About Jahja Ling

Jahja Ling was born in Jakarta, Indonesia of Chinese parents and began playing piano at the age of four under the tutelage of Suzy Djoeandy and Rudy Laban.

His faith journey began its intense course when he started regularly attending the evangelistic rallies held by Reverend Stephen Tong, which has now been over five decades. He has volunteered for Rev. Tong’s evangelistic ministries since 1965 when he was just 13 years old. In 1978, they co-founded STEMI (Stephen Tong Evangelistic Ministries International), where he has served as the Vice President ever since. In this regard, Pastor Tong has been the most important spiritual mentor in his life.

Conductor, Music Director, and Pianist—to the Service of the Master Jesus Christ our Lord

Education & Early Achievements

In 1970, Jahja Ling was awarded the John D. Rockefeller 3rd Fund Grant to study piano at The Juilliard School under Mieczyslaw Munz and conducting under John Nelson. He continued his orchestra conducting study under Otto-Werner Mueller at Yale School of Music, and was awarded Leonard Bernstein Conducting Fellow at Tanglewood Music Center and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute where Mr. Bernstein became his most influential mentor. He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from The Juilliard School and in 1985 a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Yale School of Music. In May 2015, he received the Ian Minnenberg Distinguished Alumni Service Award from Yale. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate by Wooster College in 1993.

Leonard Bernstein teaching at Tanglewood with Jahja

1977 Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition

As a pianist, Jahja Ling once won a bronze medal at the 1977 Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in Jerusalem, Israel. This Bronze Medal was presented by Golda Meir, the former Prime Minister of Israel. Wonderfully, the poster art was made by Pablo Picasso himself!

1978 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition

At the following year, Jahja Ling was awarded a certificate of honor at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow.

Maestro Jahja Ling is universally praised for his work as music director of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, having built the ensemble from a post-bankruptcy state into one of the top tier major orchestra during his 13 years tenure from 2004 to 2017. He appointed over 70 musicians and collaborated with the world’s greatest soloists such as Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and Emanuel Ax. In 2013, he led the orchestra in its first appearance at Carnegie Hall and on its inaugural tour to China. In his career, he has conducted almost all major orchestras in the United States. Internationally, he has conducted orchestras in Europe, Asia, and Australia. A man with many awards and even having days proclaimed to his own name, his contributions to so many musical ears and hands are innumerable.

Career Highlights

JAHJA LING COLLABORATING WITH LANG LANG

Special Concert Conducted in March of 1983 for the Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's Visit to San Francisco, California

Super Bowl XXV January 27 1991

Considered one of the greatest renditions of The Star-Spangled Banner, Maestro Jahja Ling led The Florida Orchestra in accompanying the esteemed vocal of Whitney Houston, which became one of most popular hits in that time, with its impact as one of the most legendary performances still echoing up to this day.

San Francisco Symphony Youth Symphony