Jaco Wong

Jaco Wong is a Hong Kong native and San Francisco-based conductor and composer currently serving as Assistant Conductor for the San Francisco Symphony and Opera Parallèle, Music Director of the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra (2024–present), and conducting faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College program.

His educational background includes:

• PSC Orchestral Conducting, San Francisco Conservatory of Music
• MM Composition and Choral Conducting, University of Southern California
• Additional studies at San Jose State University

Wong specializes in orchestral and choral conducting with a focus on contemporary repertoire, having worked under Yannick Nézet-Séguin with the Orchestre symphonique de Québec and participated in festivals like Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. His compositional work spans collaborations with ensembles including Mercury Soul and Iris Contemporary Dance Company, emphasizing innovative cross-disciplinary performances that integrate new music with visual arts and technology.

His notable recognition includes:

• Finalist for the American Prize in composition

As an educator, Wong directs the Harker School Orchestra—leading student performances at Carnegie Hall and Chicago Symphony Center—and mentors young musicians through the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra. He has also prepared ensembles for major institutions including the San Francisco Symphony and Taipei Philharmonic.

Wong maintains active collaborations across multiple ensembles including Opera Parallèle, San Francisco Symphony, and contemporary groups like Hocket piano duo, frequently working with artists such as Lang Lang and Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra to expand the boundaries of modern classical performance.