MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR - Jiannan Cheng
Praised as “a rare combination of technical skill, intense musicality, and a genuine passion,” conductor Jiannan Cheng has rapidly distinguished herself as one of the most exciting conductors of her generation. Winner of the 1st Prize, Orchestra Prize, and Audience Prize at the 2024 Hugo Alfvén International Conducting Competition in Sweden and 2nd Prize at the Orchestra’s Conductor Competition in Romania, she is recognized for her artistry that combines technical precision with illuminating musical insight and powerful emotional depth.
Jiannan is the newly appointed Assistant Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and has served as Music Director and Conductor of Orchestra Concordia since 2024. She has appeared with ensembles across Europe, North America, and Asia, including Les Violons du Roy (Canada), Filarmonica de Stat Oradea (Romania), the Stuttgart Philharmonic, Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini (Italy), Georgian Chamber Orchestra Ingolstadt, the Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra (China), and the Dallas Opera Orchestra, among others. In the 2025–26 season, she will make her debut with the Dalasinfoniettan in Sweden and will lead the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in a wide range of education, family, holiday, and summer concerts.
Equally passionate about symphonic and operatic repertoire, Jiannan has held positions as Repetiteur and Assistant Conductor at Opernfestspiele Heidenheim (Germany), City Lyric Opera (New York), and the Vienna Summer Music Festival. She also participated in The Dallas Opera’s Hart Institute for Women Conductors in the 2024–25 season and was previously mentored by Riccardo Muti at the Italian Opera Academy 2019 in Ravenna.
Born in China, Jiannan’s musical journey began at the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing. She holds additional degrees in conducting from the University of Washington, studying under Timothy Salzman, the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under Mark Gibson, and the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Munich under Markus Bosch and Alexander Liebreich. Jiannan has also received mentorship from world-renowned conductors such as Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Marin Alsop, Mei-Ann Chen, Kurt Masur, Nicolás Pasquet, and Johannes Schlaefli.
Praised as “a rare combination of technical skill, intense musicality, and a genuine passion,” conductor Jiannan Cheng has rapidly distinguished herself as one of the most exciting conductors of her generation. Winner of the 1st Prize, Orchestra Prize, and Audience Prize at the 2024 Hugo Alfvén International Conducting Competition in Sweden and 2nd Prize at the Orchestra’s Conductor Competition in Romania, she is recognized for her artistry that combines technical precision with illuminating musical insight and powerful emotional depth.
Jiannan is the newly appointed Assistant Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and has served as Music Director and Conductor of Orchestra Concordia since 2024. She has appeared with ensembles across Europe, North America, and Asia, including Les Violons du Roy (Canada), Filarmonica de Stat Oradea (Romania), the Stuttgart Philharmonic, Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini (Italy), Georgian Chamber Orchestra Ingolstadt, the Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra (China), and the Dallas Opera Orchestra, among others. In the 2025–26 season, she will make her debut with the Dalasinfoniettan in Sweden and will lead the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in a wide range of education, family, holiday, and summer concerts.
Equally passionate about symphonic and operatic repertoire, Jiannan has held positions as Repetiteur and Assistant Conductor at Opernfestspiele Heidenheim (Germany), City Lyric Opera (New York), and the Vienna Summer Music Festival. She also participated in The Dallas Opera’s Hart Institute for Women Conductors in the 2024–25 season and was previously mentored by Riccardo Muti at the Italian Opera Academy 2019 in Ravenna.
Born in China, Jiannan’s musical journey began at the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing. She holds additional degrees in conducting from the University of Washington, studying under Timothy Salzman, the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under Mark Gibson, and the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Munich under Markus Bosch and Alexander Liebreich. Jiannan has also received mentorship from world-renowned conductors such as Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Marin Alsop, Mei-Ann Chen, Kurt Masur, Nicolás Pasquet, and Johannes Schlaefli.
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Barbara Jaffe, ConcertmasterBarbara Jaffe was appointed Concertmaster of Orchestra Concordia in 2016. She received her Master of Music Degree in Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music under Donald Weilerstein. She graduated magna cum laude from the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts with a Bachelor of Music degree and was the recipient of the PCPA Book Prize for excellence in the Liberal Arts. A former member of the Shelbourne Quartet in Great Falls, MT, and Bradley University Quartet in Peoria, IL, she has performed locally with Delaware Symphony, Opera Delaware and Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestras, Fairmount Quartet, Gabriel Chamber Ensemble, the Monteverde String Quartet, and as a founding member of Elysian Camerata. In summer, Ms. Jaffe serves as Music Director of Vermont Music and Arts in Lyndonville, Vermont, where she is a faculty member, performer, and chamber music coach. Since 2020, she has been teaching Chamber Music Appreciation classes online.
Orchestra Concordia concertmaster Barbara Jaffe with David Kim, concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra
following our November 2022 Concert.
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WHAT SOME OF OUR MUSICIANS ARE SAYING:
"I am very grateful to be part of the wonderful Orchestra Concordia - where I have the opportunity to play with such talented and passionate musicians and under such a gifted director. It has been a soul-enriching experience for me." ~ Joe Hrin, Clarinet
"I joined Orchestra Concordia as an adult who had recently returned to playing an instrument after some years. It is an honor to play with such talented musicians, and to engage with sophisticated orchestral literature. I am working hard, learning a great deal, and when we perform I find myself with the same goofy grin on my face that I did when I played in youth orchestras in my teens. Award-winning conductor Jianann Cheng is a joy, and what a treat it is have the opportunity to play with such accomplished soloists. I like to think that performers and audience alike go home from a concert a little lighter, a little more young in spirit, with music in their hearts." ~ Alison G., Cello
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE ORCHESTRA - PLEASE CONTACT US. IF WE DO NOT HAVE AN OPENING FOR YOUR INSTRUMENT, YOU WILL BE PLACED ON OUR SUBSTITUTE LIST.
WE WILL ASK YOU TO COMPLETE AN INFORMATION FORM AS PART OF YOUR REQUEST TO JOIN.
WE WILL ASK YOU TO COMPLETE AN INFORMATION FORM AS PART OF YOUR REQUEST TO JOIN.
