Photo by Tim Mar
A native of New Jersey, Bryan Lin (b. 1991) is a composer, conductor, and saxophonist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His compositional style has been praised for its “distinct harmonic language” and “subtle influence” from his background as a jazz performer. Bryan strives to write music that is a reflection of our current culture while advancing the medium of concert music outside the boundaries of genre and traditions. He has collaborated with such groups as the International Orange Chorale of San Francisco, Guerrilla Composers Guild, Choral Chameleon, Lehigh University Philharmonic Orchestra, and Monocacy Chamber Orchestra.
As a performer, Bryan finds himself at home in both the classical and jazz worlds. He is active as a freelance jazz saxophonist around the Bay Area and occasional performer of new concert music. He is an established conductor of choral and instrumental music with a not-so-surprising affinity for contemporary works. In addition to conducting his own works, he has worked as a conductor with composers, soloists, and ensembles including Taylor Joshua Rankin, Brig & Sebastian Guitar Duo, and Mouthscape Contemporary Choir. While classically trained from a young age in piano and clarinet, Bryan hates classical saxophone.
Outside of performing and composing, Bryan is an active arts administrator. He is currently the Manager of Ensemble Operations at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM). He was formerly the Director for the Hot Air Music Festival's eight season, an annual day-long new music marathon held at SFCM, and coordinated the Community Service Program at the Conservatory, organizing performances that bring musicians to seldom reached audiences in the city of San Francisco. He also teaches private lessons in piano, woodwinds, and theory, and was previously a teaching artist with SFJAZZ Education and the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music.
Bryan graduated from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA with his B.A. in Music, and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, where he studied composition with Paul Salerni and Steven Sametz, as well as jazz composition with Bill Warfield. He earned his M.M. in Composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in the studio of David Garner. He has taken additional lessons with Sven-David Sandström, Narcis Bonet, and David Conte, and participated in masterclasses with Chen Yi, Aaron Jay Kernis, and Caroline Shaw. Outside of music, Bryan is a struggling part-time stand-up comedian.
As a performer, Bryan finds himself at home in both the classical and jazz worlds. He is active as a freelance jazz saxophonist around the Bay Area and occasional performer of new concert music. He is an established conductor of choral and instrumental music with a not-so-surprising affinity for contemporary works. In addition to conducting his own works, he has worked as a conductor with composers, soloists, and ensembles including Taylor Joshua Rankin, Brig & Sebastian Guitar Duo, and Mouthscape Contemporary Choir. While classically trained from a young age in piano and clarinet, Bryan hates classical saxophone.
Outside of performing and composing, Bryan is an active arts administrator. He is currently the Manager of Ensemble Operations at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM). He was formerly the Director for the Hot Air Music Festival's eight season, an annual day-long new music marathon held at SFCM, and coordinated the Community Service Program at the Conservatory, organizing performances that bring musicians to seldom reached audiences in the city of San Francisco. He also teaches private lessons in piano, woodwinds, and theory, and was previously a teaching artist with SFJAZZ Education and the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music.
Bryan graduated from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA with his B.A. in Music, and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, where he studied composition with Paul Salerni and Steven Sametz, as well as jazz composition with Bill Warfield. He earned his M.M. in Composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in the studio of David Garner. He has taken additional lessons with Sven-David Sandström, Narcis Bonet, and David Conte, and participated in masterclasses with Chen Yi, Aaron Jay Kernis, and Caroline Shaw. Outside of music, Bryan is a struggling part-time stand-up comedian.
