Cho-Liang Lin — Violin

Violinist Cho-Liang Lin, acclaimed worldwide for his brilliant artistry and versatility, has enjoyed an illustrious career as soloist, educator, and artistic leader. Born in Taiwan, Lin began violin studies at the age of five and, at twelve, moved to Sydney to study with Robert Pikler, a pupil of Jenő Hubay. After a formative encounter with Itzhak Perlman in a masterclass, Lin set his sights on studying with Perlman’s teacher, the legendary Dorothy DeLay. At fifteen, he traveled alone to New York to audition for The Juilliard School, where he worked with DeLay for the next six years.

Lin’s career was launched in 1980 with his debut performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta. Since then, he has appeared with virtually every major orchestra worldwide, including the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony, Munich Philharmonic, and Royal Philharmonic, among many others. His recent solo appearances include engagements with the New York Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony, Munich Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Nashville Symphony, and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Alongside his performing career, Lin has held influential teaching and leadership positions. In 1991, he joined the faculty of The Juilliard School, and in 2006, he was appointed Professor of Violin at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. He served as Artistic Director of La Jolla SummerFest for eighteen years and currently directs the J&A Beare Premier Festival in Hong Kong. In 2019, he founded the Taipei Music Academy & Festival, bringing distinguished artists from around the world to mentor and perform with outstanding young musicians.

A passionate advocate for new music, Lin has commissioned and premiered works by leading composers including John Harbison, Christopher Rouse, Tan Dun, John Williams, Steven Stucky, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Bright Sheng, Paul Schoenfield, Lalo Schifrin, and Joan Tower. His advocacy has significantly enriched the violin repertoire of our time.

Lin’s discography on Sony Classical, Decca, BIS, Delos, and Ondine includes concerto, chamber, and recital recordings that have garnered a Gramophone Record of the Year, multiple Grammy Award nominations, and Penguin Guide Rosettes. He performs on the 1715 “Titian” Stradivari as well as a 2000 violin by Samuel Zygmuntowicz. In recognition of his artistry, Musical America named him Instrumentalist of the Year in 2020.