Gustavus Announces New Symphony Orchestra Conductor Posted on January 26th, 2010 by Matt Thomas '00

Ruth Lin

Gustavus Adolphus College is proud to announce the appointment of a new Gustavus Symphony Orchestra conductor, Ruth Lu Lin. She will officially join the faculty and lead the orchestra starting Sept. 1, 2010, however, Lin is already preparing for her new role at Gustavus and will assist in recruiting musicians for the next academic year.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Ruth Lin will be joining the music department.  She greatly impressed us throughout the search process and was our unanimous first choice for the position,” said Gustavus Music Department Chair Michael Jorgensen. 

Lin received her doctorate of music in orchestral conducting December 2009 from Northwestern University School of Music in Evanston, Ill. She had earned a bachelor of music degree from Northwestern University in music education and music technology in 2002 and a master’s degree in orchestral conducting in 2005.

A talented pianist, Lin has extensive experience in performance. She was recently featured in the Dame Myra Hess Series on the Chicago classical radio station WFMT, as part of the Lin-Kontorovitch piano duo. She is also active in a flute-oboe-piano trio, Atlas Trio, which performs a diverse program of various Midwest universities.

Lin served as director of orchestra studies and conducting at Iowa State University from 2007-2009.  She possesses an extensive and impressive list of conducting experience, including the Iowa State University Orchestra, guest conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra, and conductor/founder of the Good Samaritan Symphony Orchestra.

She is enthusiastic about her future with the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra. “I am thrilled and excited to join the fantastic faculty of Gustavus Adolphus College and be a part of its great educational tradition. I look forward to making great music with students and faculty, sharing my knowledge and love of music, working closely with my colleagues, and contributing to the Gustavus and St. Peter community,” Lin said.

Lin was born in Zhang Zhou, China. She began her musical studies on the piano at the age of five and immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of 10.

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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510