Cho-Liang Lin

Cho-Liang Lin is an internationally acclaimed violinist and educator whose career spans decades of artistic excellence. Born in Taiwan, he began playing violin after being captivated by a neighbor's practice sessions. His exceptional talent led him to study in Australia at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and later at the Juilliard School in New York under the renowned teacher Dorothy DeLay. Lin's performance career took off when he began giving over 100 concerts annually with prestigious orchestras worldwide. He was signed by CBS Masterworks (now Sony Classical) and made history as the first Taiwanese musician officially invited by the Beijing government to tour China after the Cultural Revolution. Beyond performing, Lin has devoted himself to teaching at the Juilliard School and later as a full professor at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. He has also served as the director of La Jolla SummerFest for 18 years, where he commissioned and premiered 54 new works. Throughout his career, Lin has championed contemporary classical music while maintaining a deep respect for tradition. He plays a rare Stradivarius violin and continues to influence the next generation of musicians through his teaching, which emphasizes technical excellence, musical integrity, and a balanced approach to career development in today's changing musical landscape.