Acclaimed by critics for her “brilliant” interpretations and “remarkable nuances,” Chaowen Ting was recently named both as Conductor of the Peabody Youth Orchestra as well as Assistant Conductor of the Augusta Symphony. A native of Taiwan, the ascendant maestra has led a number of the world’s prominent ensembles, including the BBC Concert Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, the St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra, and orchestras in Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Croatia, and Honduras. In addition to her prolific musicality, Ting is also hailed for her award-winning leadership of countless music diversity initiatives, recognized via national grant awards and additional accolades.

Both on and off the stage, Ting seeks to democratize classical music by creating opportunities for diverse voices—audience, performer, conductor, and composer alike. She continues to actively commission music for orchestra and wind ensemble, having conducted premieres of over 20 works. In addition, Ting prioritizes the lifespan of the composers’ creations beyond their performance premieres. Ting’s performances often interweave new compositions, culturally relevant themes, and interdisciplinary presentation, presenting orchestral music in ways that excite not only the ears, but also the eyes and mind. 

Ting has executed this artistic balancing act to high praise through her leadership within the Georgia Institute of Technology. As the institution’s Director of Orchestral Studies, examples of her innovative performances include combining dancers, science, and the university’s Math team (The Seven Bridges of Königsberg); integrating film, orchestra, and a smartphone app to bring awareness to marine noise pollution (Oceana); and using silent film to present a suite of newly composed works, among others. 

In addition to audience engagement, Ting has made similarly bold efforts to generate equality within the classical music field. Through the ADORE Project, she connects composer and conductor, regularly featuring intermediate-level works of marginalized composers so that music students and amateurs can have increased access to music. In Girls Who Conduct, women, women-identifying, and non-binary conductors receive training, mentorship, and a professional network. Finally, hundreds of conductors from 30 continents tuned in for the 2020-2021 “Maestro as Professor” webinar series, as Ting joined Dr. Carolyn Watson to speak on industry issues relevant to those who seek to enter the music field. 

Ting received a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Eastman School and previous conducting education from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory (M.M.) and Mercer University (M.M.). One of six conducting fellows chosen internationally by The Dallas Opera to join its Hart Institute for Women Conductors, Ting has also amassed a formidable résumé in the opera field. In 2017, Ting led Opera Philadelphia in a special workshop event with its Composer-in-Residence Rene Orth, collaborating with Orth to develop the composer’s new opera, Machine. 

Her conducting positions include Music Director of NANOWorks Opera (Ohio), a Conducting Fellowship with the Allentown Symphony (Pennsylvania), and as Principal Guest Conductor of VIM Ensemble, the Atlanta-based contemporary collective featuring artists of the southeastern United States.