Photo by Tim Mar
A native of New Jersey, Bryan Lin (b. 1991) is a composer and conductor based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His compositional style has been praised for its “distinct harmonic language” and “subtle influence” from his background in jazz. His music often focuses on political and social commentary while blurring the lines 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.
Bryan is also 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 collaborated with composers, soloists, and ensembles including Taylor Joshua Rankin, John Vidovic, Stephan Kane, Brig Urias/Sebastian Olarte Guitar Duo, and the contemporary choir Mouthscape. As a performer, Bryan is active as a jazz saxophonist and bass-baritone singer.
Outside of performing and composing, Bryan is an arts administrator. He currently works full-time at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as the Manager of Ensemble Operations. He was the Director for the Hot Air Music Festival's eighth season in 2017, an annual day-long new music marathon held at SFCM, and coordinated the Community Service Program to bring Conservatory musicians to seldom reached audiences in the city of San Francisco. He taught private lessons in piano, woodwinds, and theory, and was previously a teaching artist with SFJAZZ 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. His conducting mentors include Vince Peterson, Matthew Oltman, Jacques Desjardins, and Steven Sametz. He has taken additional composition lessons with David Conte, Sven-David Sandström, and Narcis Bonet, and participated in masterclasses with Chen Yi, Aaron Jay Kernis, and Caroline Shaw. Outside of music, Bryan aspires to be a part-time comedian.
Bryan is also 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 collaborated with composers, soloists, and ensembles including Taylor Joshua Rankin, John Vidovic, Stephan Kane, Brig Urias/Sebastian Olarte Guitar Duo, and the contemporary choir Mouthscape. As a performer, Bryan is active as a jazz saxophonist and bass-baritone singer.
Outside of performing and composing, Bryan is an arts administrator. He currently works full-time at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as the Manager of Ensemble Operations. He was the Director for the Hot Air Music Festival's eighth season in 2017, an annual day-long new music marathon held at SFCM, and coordinated the Community Service Program to bring Conservatory musicians to seldom reached audiences in the city of San Francisco. He taught private lessons in piano, woodwinds, and theory, and was previously a teaching artist with SFJAZZ 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. His conducting mentors include Vince Peterson, Matthew Oltman, Jacques Desjardins, and Steven Sametz. He has taken additional composition lessons with David Conte, Sven-David Sandström, and Narcis Bonet, and participated in masterclasses with Chen Yi, Aaron Jay Kernis, and Caroline Shaw. Outside of music, Bryan aspires to be a part-time comedian.
