Jiannan Cheng
Music Director and Conductor
Jiannan Cheng studied conducting at the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing (B.A.), the University of Washington in Seattle (M.M.), Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (D.M.A.), and Hochschule für Musik und Theater Munich. She serves as a Cover Conductor with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Other past professional positions include Conducting Fellow of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Miami Symphony Orchestra. Jiannan joined the faculty of Rowan University in the fall of 2020. At Rowan she is Music Director of the Rowan University Orchestra, serves as the conductor for the opera productions, and teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting. Jiannan made her European debut conducting and working with the Stuttgart Philharmonic, WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini, and the Georgian Chamber Orchestra Ingolstadt. She was the 1st prize winner in the 2024 Hugo Alfvén conducting competition in Sweden, and the 2nd Prize winner of the Orchestra’s Conductor Conducting Competition 2024 in Romania, a Finalist of the Arthur Nikisch Conducting Competition, and a 2nd Prize winner of the 4x4 Competition for Composers and Conductors 2016. Her teachers and mentors have included world-renowned conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Kurt Masur, and Marcus Bosch, to whom she served as an assistant in Heidenheim, Germany.
|
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.
|
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. Conductor Gary White is skilled at eliciting the best musical performances out of all the players, 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 H., 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.
