Jason Lai
Encyclopedia
Jason Lai is a British
orchestral conductor. He was assistant conductor of the BBC Philharmonic
from 2002 to 2005. At present he is principal conductor of the Conservatory Orchestra at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music of the National University of Singapore
.
, where he became music director of the Oxford University Philharmonia. On completion of his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
he was awarded a Masters in composition and a Diploma in cello. Jason was then appointed the Fellow in Conducting at GSMD from 2000-2002.
. His successful tenure there gave him the opportunity to work closely with many conductors and led to invitations with the other BBC orchestras and the BBC Singers, he made his BBC Proms debut with the BBC Philharmonic in 2003.
Jason was a prize winner at the Leeds Conductors Competition in 2005 and has assisted and taken part in masterclasses with Pierre Boulez
, Colin Davis
, Valery Gergiev
and Simon Rattle
.
In opera, Lai has conducted Haydn's L'infedeltà delusa
for Bampton Classical Opera
(2004 and 2005) and Gazzaniga
’s Don Giovanni
(2004).
Recent appearances have included concerts with Hong Kong Philharmonic, Hong Kong Sinfonietta
, Ulster Orchestra
, Royal Philharmonic, Malaysian Philharmonic, Taipei Symphony Orchestra
and Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
Jason is the newly appointed Artist Associate with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.
. In 2007 he was one of the judges in the BBC2 classical music talent show Classical Star, and in August 2008 he appeared in the BBC reality TV show Maestro
where he was a conducting mentor to Sue Perkins
. After conducting their way through many rounds Jason and Sue went on to win the competition. In April 2009 Jason will start production on a new series Clash! for CBBC in which two teams of 5 talented musicians compete to reversion classical music.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
orchestral conductor. He was assistant conductor of the BBC Philharmonic
BBC Philharmonic
The BBC Philharmonic is a British broadcasting symphony orchestra based at Media City UK, Salford, England. It is one of five radio orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation. The orchestra's primary concert venue is the Bridgewater Hall....
from 2002 to 2005. At present he is principal conductor of the Conservatory Orchestra at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music of the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
.
Early years
Jason started his musical studies at the age of 12 when he took cello, piano and composition lessons, which continued with the help of a scholarship at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester. In 1993 he was awarded a Hadow Scholarship to study at Worcester College, OxfordWorcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
, where he became music director of the Oxford University Philharmonia. On completion of his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
he was awarded a Masters in composition and a Diploma in cello. Jason was then appointed the Fellow in Conducting at GSMD from 2000-2002.
2002 onward
Lai was the winner of the BBC Young Conductors Workshop in February 2002 and was awarded the post of Assistant Conductor with BBC PhilharmonicBBC Philharmonic
The BBC Philharmonic is a British broadcasting symphony orchestra based at Media City UK, Salford, England. It is one of five radio orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation. The orchestra's primary concert venue is the Bridgewater Hall....
. His successful tenure there gave him the opportunity to work closely with many conductors and led to invitations with the other BBC orchestras and the BBC Singers, he made his BBC Proms debut with the BBC Philharmonic in 2003.
Jason was a prize winner at the Leeds Conductors Competition in 2005 and has assisted and taken part in masterclasses with Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
, Colin Davis
Colin Davis
Sir Colin Rex Davis, CH, CBE is an English conductor. His repertoire is broad, but among the composers with whom he is particularly associated are Mozart, Berlioz, Elgar, Sibelius, Stravinsky and Tippett....
, Valery Gergiev
Valery Gergiev
Valery Abisalovich Gergiev is a Russian conductor and opera company director. He is general director and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, and artistic director of the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg.- Early life :Gergiev,...
and Simon Rattle
Simon Rattle
Sir Simon Denis Rattle, CBE is an English conductor. He rose to international prominence as conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and since 2002 has been principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic ....
.
In opera, Lai has conducted Haydn's L'infedeltà delusa
L'infedeltà delusa
L'infedeltà delusa , Hob. 28/5, is an operatic burletta per musica by Joseph Haydn. The Italian libretto was by Marco Coltellini, perhaps reworked by Carl Friberth who also took part in the first performance.-Performance history:...
for Bampton Classical Opera
Bampton Classical Opera
Bampton Classical Opera is an opera company based in Bampton, Oxfordshire specialising in the production of lesser known opera from the Classical period...
(2004 and 2005) and Gazzaniga
Giuseppe Gazzaniga
Giuseppe Gazzaniga was a member of the Neapolitan school of opera composers. He composed fifty-one operas and is considered to be one of the last Italian opera buffa composers.-Biography:...
’s Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni Tenorio
Don Giovanni Tenorio, o sia Il convitato di pietra is the most famous opera by the Italian composer Giuseppe Gazzaniga. It belongs to the genre of dramma giocoso and is in one act. Don Giovanni Tenorio was first performed at the Teatro San Moisè, Venice, on February 5, 1787...
(2004).
Recent appearances have included concerts with Hong Kong Philharmonic, Hong Kong Sinfonietta
Hong Kong Sinfonietta
The Hong Kong Sinfonietta is a professional symphony orchestra based in Hong Kong, China. It was established in 1990 by a group of local music graduates. It has always aimed at promoting classical music to the public. The orchestra was reorganized 1999, with Tsung Yeh, an American conductor of...
, Ulster Orchestra
Ulster Orchestra
The Ulster Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Belfast, the only full-time professional orchestra in Northern Ireland. The orchestra plays the majority of its concerts in Belfast's Ulster Hall and Waterfront Hall...
, Royal Philharmonic, Malaysian Philharmonic, Taipei Symphony Orchestra
Taipei Symphony Orchestra
The Taipei Symphony Orchestra , founded in 1969, is one of the leading orchestras based in Taipei, Taiwan.In these seasons, TSO works also with European Music directors and conductors, such as Reinhard Goebel, Martin Fischer-Dieskau or Maurice Steger.- Introduction :Under the direction of Felix...
and Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
Jason is the newly appointed Artist Associate with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.
Television
In addition to his conducting Jason has been a broadcaster for a number of years. He was invited to be the panel expert for the 2006 edition of BBC Young Musician of the YearBBC Young Musician of the Year
The BBC Young Musician of the Year is a televised national music competition. It is broadcast on BBC Two and BBC Four biennially, despite the name, and hosted by the British Broadcasting Corporation...
. In 2007 he was one of the judges in the BBC2 classical music talent show Classical Star, and in August 2008 he appeared in the BBC reality TV show Maestro
Maestro
Maestro is a title of extreme respect given to a master musician. The term is most commonly used in the context of Western classical music and opera. This is associated with the ubiquitous use of Italian vocabulary for classical music terms...
where he was a conducting mentor to Sue Perkins
Sue Perkins
Sue Perkins is an English comedienne, broadcaster, actress, and writer.-Education:Perkins was educated at Croham Hurst School, an independent school for girls in Croydon in South London, at the same time as the BBC Breakfast News presenter Susanna Reid...
. After conducting their way through many rounds Jason and Sue went on to win the competition. In April 2009 Jason will start production on a new series Clash! for CBBC in which two teams of 5 talented musicians compete to reversion classical music.