Symphony's new associate conductor

Chia-Hsuan Lin, assistant conductor of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic since 2014, has been named associate conductor of the Richmond Symphony.

Lin will begin work here in January, as Keitaro Harada reduces his schedule in Richmond. Harada, who recently became associate conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, will remain on the Richmond Symphony roster until May.

Born in Taiwan, Lin began as a percussionist, performing for seven years with the Taipei Percussion Group, and earned degrees in percussion and conducting from National Taiwan Normal University. She earned a graduate degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and in 2012 began doctoral studies at Northwestern University.

Lin was a semi-finalist in the 2013 Jeunesses Musicales International Conducting Competition in Bucharest, Romania, and the following year was one of three artists chosen for the Emerging Conductor Program, working with the orchestra of the Peninsula Music Festival in Wisconsin.

The 29-year-old conductor also serves as music director of the South Loop Symphony Orchestra in Chicago.

The Richmond Symphony’s associate conductor is primarily responsible for leading programs in the Symphony Pops and LolliPops series, conducting community concerts, directing the orchestra’s Young Performers Program, and substituting as needed for music director Steven Smith and guest conductors on other dates.