 Jason Lai was the winner of the BBC Young Conductors Workshop in February 2002 and has been awarded the post of Assistant Conductor at the BBC Philharmonic. Making his BBC Radio 3 debut, he conducted in the BBC Lutoslawski festival Breaking Chains at the Barbican. Jason has also worked with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, English Touring Opera, London Sinfonietta and the BBC Singers. From 1998-2000, as the Conducting Fellow at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, Jason conducted performances of Kurt Weill's Mahagony Songspiel, in collaboration with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and an acclaimed production of Britten's realisation of The Beggar's Opera with Guildhall Opera. He has participated in many conducting masterclasses including those given by Jiri Belohlavek, Sir Andrew Davis, Sir Colin Davis and Mark Wigglesworth. He has conducted the Guildhall Symphony and Chamber orchestras and New Music Group and made his operatic debut in conducting Fauré's Penelope with Guildhall School Opera.
The British born Chinese conductor started his musical studies at the age of 12 when he took cello, piano and composition lessons, which continued with the help of a scholarship at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester. In 1993 Jason was awarded a Hadow Scholarship to study at Worcester College, Oxford, where he became music director of the Oxford University Philharmonia. On completion of his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama he was awarded a Masters in composition and a Diploma in cello.
As the new Assistant Conductor at the BBC Philharmonic, Jason will be working and studying with the Orchestra during its 2002/2003 season. He will attend rehearsals, recordings and public concerts, work with the Orchestra's Principal Conductor and visiting conductors, as well as taking part in the Orchestra's education and outreach work.
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