Biography

Born in Taiwan, Jerry Hou received his early musical training in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Houston. After completing a Masters degree from the Shepherd School of Music, Rice University, Jerry went to Europe to study contemporary music performance with Pierre Boulez and the Ensemble Intercontemporain at the Lucerne Festival Academy and with members of the Ensemble Modern in the Ensemble Modern Academy. Jerry began his formal conducting studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England with Clark Rundell and Mark Elder. He continued his studies in Germany and Sweden, working closely with Jorma Panula and Alan Gilbert. Currently, Jerry serves as assistant/cover conductor for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition he also works as a cover conductor for the Saint Louis Symphony. An advocate of new music, he has collaborated with composers such as Emily Howard, Mark Anthony Turnage, Unsuk Chin, Brett Dean, Benedict Mason, Peter Eötvös, and Harrison Birtwistle. Jerry has worked with orchestras such as the Rochester Philharmonic, Saint Louis Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, St. Petersburg Academy Orchestra, Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, and members of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic. Jerry Hou is currently working towards the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music studying with Neil Varon. Other teachers include Larry Rachleff and Brad Lubman.