Dr. Emily Mariko Eng, Music Director

Dr. Emily Mariko Eng is excited to begin her tenure as Music Director of the Blue Ridge Orchestra, after having the pleasure of guest conducting Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 for the BRO’s 2024 Spring Fourth concert. 

Originally from New Hampshire, Emily currently serves on the music faculty at the University of North Carolina Asheville, where she is Director of Wind Bands. She holds a DMA in Conducting from the University of Georgia, an MM in Conducting from New England Conservatory and a BS in Biochemistry and Music Composition from Brandeis University. Her research and artistic interests include fostering comprehensive musicianship in the college music curriculum, exploring the role of conductor-as-facilitator in the collaborative creative process, and creative citizenship.

At UNCA, Emily leads the Wind Ensemble, Songwriters Ensemble, and Pep Band, teaches classes in Aural Skills and Composition, and advises students in undergraduate research and creative projects. In 2023, she led a team of songwriting students in the creation of original music for UNCA’s production of Elektra, a collaboration with Drama and Ancient Mediterranean Studies. For the past two summers, Emily has led creativity programs for highschoolers at UNCA’s Music Composition & Songwriting Pre-College Program.

As conductor and composer-songwriter, Emily’s experience spans genres, often crossing out of the classical sphere into popular and contemporary music. At UGA, Emily was involved with the Athens Hip Hop Harmonic at its inception, serving as conductor for its inaugural set of performances and recordings. She conducted department and recital ensembles and served as a teaching assistant for UGA Athletic Bands. Dedicated to promoting new music, Emily has built close collaborative relationships with composers and has premiered works by Kevin Day, Badie Khaleghian, and Ayako Pederson-Takeda. Prior to moving to Georgia, she worked with the NEC Wind Ensemble, NEC Symphonic Winds, the North End Music & Performing Arts Center’s Opera Project, the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra, Needham Community Theater, and the Brandeis University Undergraduate Theater Collective. Highlights include conducting the world premiere of Michael Gandolfi’s Polymath, a fanfare written to commemorate NEC’s 150th Anniversary year.

Emily has presented at the Midwest Clinic, the Percussive Arts Society International Conference, and the Maryland Music Educators Association Conference. She is a member of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA) and was also inducted as an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi.

Emily is Executive Director and Founder of Lift Music Fund, a nonprofit organization that has made achievement in music more accessible and equitable by awarding microgrants to minoritized student musicians.