Jason Lai’s musical studies started when he was 10 years old, taking up cello, composition, and piano lessons, which continued with the help of a scholarship at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester.
He studied at Worcester College, Oxford, where he became the Music Director of the Oxford University Philharmonica. He then moved onto the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he was awarded a master’s in composition and a Diploma in Cello. He was then appointed the Fellow in Conducting at GSMD from 2000-2002.
He has also been involved in a number of operas, conducting Haydn’s L’infedeltà delusa for Bampton Classical Opera (2004 and 2005) and Gazzaniga’s Don Giovanni (2004).
He has guest-conducted some of the world’s best orchestras, including the Hong Kon Philharmonic, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Royal Philharmonic, Ulster Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Breman, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, Macao Orchestra, Orchestra of the Swan, and Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
Following his work with various British orchestras, he was appointed Artist Associate to the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and became their Associate Conductor in 2009.
Jason Lai | TV Presenting Work
As well as his conducting work, Jason has been a presenter and broadcaster for many years. He was part of the expert panel for the 2006 edition of BBC Young Musician of the Year. This was followed up by judging the BBC 2 classical show Classical Star (2007) and mentored comedian Sue Perkins in the BBC reality show Mastro (2008).
Since settling in Singapore, Jason has continued with his television work. He was a presenter and conductor for Project Symphony, an eight-part series for Okto, where he was filmed setting up a community orchestra.
More recently, he has been heavily involved in filming for a BBC series called Heart Of Asia, which explores the contemporary arts and culture scene in Thailand, Indonesia, Korea and the Philippines; and a further series for BBC World News called Tales From Modern China.
Having toured as a cellist with the Allegri String Quartet and as a finalist in the BBC Young Composers Award, Jason gravitated increasingly towards conducting, especially after he won the BBC Young Conductors Workshop in 2002. This led to his appointment as Assistant Conductor to the BBC Philharmonic, with whom he made his BBC Proms debut in 2003.
Jason Lai | Musical Educator and Ambassador
Education is an important part of Jason’s work in Singapore. At the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory, he trains the next generation of conductors, many of whom have had many successes both at home and abroad. With the SSO he spearheads the education and outreach programme, helping the orchestra reach new audiences, notably through his Discovering Music and Children’s concerts.
Jason Lai | Conducting Leadership Programme
Jason provides a collection of dynamic workshops for businesses and organisations to help participants with their leadership structure and inter-relational teamwork. Attendees will:
– Be inspired to reach deep into their leadership identity
– Learn how to work as a team, build trust, and build capability through honest and direct communication
– See that leading with authority, authenticity, and presence will product results.
– See how a conductor can encourage the orchestra to perform in alignment, listen to each other, and perform with heart and soul
– Learn the importance of body language and gesture in effective communication
– Learn how clear messages and storytelling can inspire and motivate
– Learn how agility in decision making has a huge effect on your team
– See how allowing innovation can transform an organisation
– Learn how leadership is about action and not position
