Meet Our New Director of Music: Jenny Lin

The Phillips Collection welcomes acclaimed pianist and programmer Jenny Lin as our new Director of Music to lead Phillips Music, now in its 84th season.

Jenny Lin comes to the Phillips after most recently serving as the Executive Director of the Manchester Music Festival, leading its 50th Anniversary Season. As a Steinway artist, Lin has built an impressive international reputation, distinguished by inventive collaborations, performing widely with renowned orchestras and symphonies at the world’s most notable concert halls. Born in Taiwan, raised in Austria, and educated in Europe and the United States, Lin studied music at the Hochschule für Musik and Peabody Conservatory. 

What drew you to The Phillips Collection?

Growing up in Washington, DC, and having performed at The Phillips Collection in the past, I have always been captivated by its unique integration of visual art and music. The opportunity to lead a program that embodies this interdisciplinary approach is both an honor and a natural progression in my career.

What makes the Phillips Music program unique? Why should people attend a Phillips Music concert?

Phillips Music is an extension of the curatorial vision of the museum. Hosted in the historic Phillips House Music Room, it is a destination for musical explorations and discoveries, providing gatherings where the intimate and experimental meet. It is also a sanctuary for all creative minds and musical visionaries, with each performance thoughtfully curated. Now in its 84th season, with a roster of national and international performers, Phillips Music has long been a cornerstone of the DC cultural scene, with a reputation extending well beyond the communities. We also feature the Leading International Composers series which profiles some of the greatest living composers.

Who are some of your favorite artists/artworks at the Phillips?

The Phillips Collection houses remarkable works. All of the Impressionist pieces, Klee and Kandinsky, of course the Americans—Avery, Rothko, Gilliam, O’Keeffe, Frankenthaler—my list is endless. The art rotates throughout the museum thus in the Music Room we are very spoiled to be surrounded by different artworks that change periodically. I have been enjoying Stuart Davis’s Still Life with Saw, and having spent my youth in Austria, obsessed with Oskar Kokoschka’s Courmayeur et les Dents des Géants, both currently in the Music Room.

How do you select artists and programs for the Phillips Music series? What initiatives are in place to engage the community with the Phillips Music program?

I aim to curate performances that reflect both the museum’s artistic vision and the diverse interests of our audience. In addition to presenting a music series of the highest quality celebrating different musical legacies, it is important for me to promote and provide a platform for emerging and local artists. I try to establish a structure with unifying themes and collaborate with other museum departments to expand impact through education and outreach. We are now working closely to implement music programs for families and to act as musical partners for all area institutions and communities.

In-person concert tickets are sold out for the season, but rush and standby tickets may become available. Or join us online via the high-definition livestream with pristine audio. Learn more about Phillips Music’s current season.