Education: BM, University of Southern California, 2002; MM, University of Southern California, 2004; DMA, University of Washington, 2010. At SPU since 2016.
Dr. Julia Tai is the Director of Orchestra at Seattle Pacific University, the Music Director of Philharmonia Northwest, and the founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Seattle Modern Orchestra. Her career has led to acclaimed performances and rehearsals with orchestras around the world, including the American Youth Symphony, Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic (Czech Republic), Brandenburger Symphoniker (Germany), Estonian National Youth Symphony (Estonia), New Symphony Orchestra (Bulgaria), Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil Charlos Chávez (Mexico), and the Seattle Symphony. She has participated in the renowned Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, the Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice at the New England Conservatory, and worked with legendary composers, performers and ensembles such as Jonathan Harvey, Tristan Murail, Graeme Jennings, Garth Knox and Ensemble Modern.
Dr. Tai is equally adept at directing choirs. She is the former Music Director of Magnolia United Church of Christ, Magnolia Chorale, Santa Monica Presbyterian Church, and Westwood United Methodist Church. She has directed both adult and children’s choirs, as well as handbell and festival orchestras at these churches.
Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Dr. Tai began studying violin at age four and piano at eight. She received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where she was honored with the departmental award of “Outstanding Graduate of 2004.” She obtained her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Washington, where she served as the principal conductor of the Contemporary Ensemble, the assistant conductor of the University Symphony and UW Opera.
Please view Dr. Tai’s CV (PDF) for more information.
Personal links
Julia Tai’s website