Jaco Wong is a Hong Kong-born, San Francisco-based conductor, composer, artistic leader, and educator whose work bridges the orchestral tradition with the evolving landscape of today's musical culture. Equally at home with symphonic repertoire, opera, contemporary music, and interdisciplinary collaboration, he has built a career defined by thoughtful programming, creative partnerships, and a commitment to broadening how audiences experience classical music. Whether working with major orchestras, developing new work, or mentoring young musicians, Wong approaches music-making as both an artistic pursuit and a means of building lasting cultural connections.
Wong serves in artistic leadership roles across the Bay Area as Music Director of the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra, Artistic Director of the Mill Valley Philharmonic, Orchestra Director at The Harker School, and Conducting Faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College. He is also a frequent assistant conductor with the San Francisco Symphony, where he has assisted with conductors including Elim Chan, James Gaffigan, Dalia Stasevska, Harry Bicket, and Kazuki Yamada. He recently served as assistant conductor for the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, and previously with the Oakland Symphony for three seasons, where he assisted Mei-Ann Chen, Leonard Slatkin, among others, and made his conducting debut with the orchestra. His guest appearances have also included the San José Chamber Orchestra, Diablo Symphony Orchestra, and orchestras throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.
Opera and vocal music have remained central to Wong's artistic life. As Associate Conductor of Opera Parallèle, he has contributed to productions including The Emissary, The Pigeon Keeper, Birds & Balls, and Harvey Milk: Reimagined, reflecting his commitment to championing contemporary opera alongside established repertoire. Earlier engagements include Festival Opera's Carmen and Mozart's Don Giovanni at Prague Summer Nights in the historic Estates Theatre. Before focusing primarily on orchestral conducting, Wong spent seven years as Music Director of Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, conducting repertoire spanning Bach and Handel to the music of today's leading composers.
As a composer, Wong explores the intersection of music, technology, and human perception. His multimedia orchestral work Inkling, for orchestra and fixed electronics, was created in collaboration with animation artist Evan Tedlock and neuroscientist Enrique Vargas of the UCSF Sound & Music Perception Lab and performed by New World Symphony. His vocal work Psithaura, a finalist for The American Prize in Composition, has received performances internationally and exemplifies his interest in immersive and interdisciplinary artistic experiences. More recently, his arrangement of David Bowie's Heroes was performed by the San Francisco Symphony with Jessica Vosk and Edwin Outwater. His music is published by See-A-Dot Music.
Education forms an essential part of Wong's artistic work. At The Harker School, he directs one of the nation's leading secondary orchestra programs, with ensembles performing at Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Center, Green Music Center, Royce Hall, and the Essentially Ellington Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center. He leads the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra on tours to Germany, Korea, and beyond. He also mentors young conductors at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College and previously served as resident conductor of the Great Wall Youth Chinese Orchestra. Across each of these roles, Wong is committed to cultivating technically accomplished musicians who are equally imaginative, collaborative, and engaged citizens.
Wong holds a Professional Studies Certificate in Orchestral Conducting from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Edwin Outwater and a Master of Music in Music Composition and Choral Conducting from the University of Southern California. His artistic development has been further shaped by studies at the Eastman School of Music's Paris program in collaboration with IRCAM and conducting fellowships including Domaine Forget de Charlevoix, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Dohnányi Academy, and Conducting Programs International Tokyo.