Lisa Wong

Dr. Lisa Wong, a distinguished choral conductor and educator, serves as Director of Choruses for The Cleveland Orchestra. Her work has been described as “nuanced” (The New York Times) and “sensitive, yet powerful” (Cleveland Classical). She has prepared The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and The Blossom Festival Chorus for acclaimed performances under conductors Franz Welser-Möst, Klaus Mäkelä, John Adams, Jane Glover, Susanna Mälkki, Eric Whitacre, and many others.

Lisa served for sixteen years as the Olive Williams Kettering Professor of Music at The College of Wooster. As Director of the award-winning Wooster Chorus, she elevated the ensemble to national prominence through annual domestic tours, performances at state and regional conferences, and the premiere performances of fifteen new works. Her expertise in music education is informed by thirty-two years of classroom experience and extensive work as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor. She has successfully directed choirs at all levels, from elementary and secondary schools to universities and professional community organizations.

A sought-after leader in the field, Lisa has shared her expertise internationally through engagements in Kenya and Singapore. She has served numerous times as a grant panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and Chorus America, and has presented at state and national conferences on varied topics including choral repertoire, rehearsal techniques, and women in leadership. She is beginning her term as President-Elect of the Ohio Choral Directors Association, and has served as the Repertoire and Resource Chair for World Music and Cultures and on the Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Ohio Music Education Association.

With degrees from West Chester University and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Lisa’s academic foundation is complemented by a rich career dedicated to inspiring and nurturing musicians of all ages. Her contributions to both the professional and academic spheres have significantly impacted the choral landscape.