At the mere age of three, Lily Ling found herself picking up the accordion, the first instrument her parents introduced her to as a child, with intrigue. As her musical inclination quickly blossomed, the accordion led to the piano, the piano led to musical theater, and theater emerged into musical direction. The rest is history, as Ling now serves as one of the conductors for the renowned Broadway musical, Hamilton, and the Music Director for a company of the award-winning show.
鈥淏eing in the musical theater industry has taught me how to be a student, a musician, a teacher, a friend, a collaborator, an advocate, and most importantly, how to be an empathetic artist and human being,鈥� shares Ling.
A current student in 麻豆原创's Music and Music Education doctoral program, Ling is the first person of Asian descent to conduct Hamilton on Broadway, and the first woman to music direct the show. We sat down with Ling as she shared some of her most important takeaways for success on and off stage:
Perfect Your Craft and Build Connections Along the Way
鈥淭he only way to improve your skills and know your industry better is to work under the people who have come before you,鈥� says Ling, who attributes her successes to the real-world experiences she's gained in the industry. 鈥淚 think I'm an amalgamation, a sponge, of everyone I've collaborated with in my career. I've worked for many unique individuals and observed and gathered the best parts of their teachings.鈥�
These connections made over time helped foster Ling鈥檚 pathway to Broadway, particularly during her time at Penn State with friend and mentor Roberto Sinha. Sinha, whose experiences include musical direction for the Broadway hit Kinky Boots, recommended Ling to stand alongside him as Associate Musical Director during the second national tour of Hamilton. 鈥淚 spent my first year purely learning under Roberto, learning the language of production,鈥� shares Ling. 鈥淚t really helped me learn the language of my industry.鈥�
Lily Ling backstage with colleagues Alex Lacamoire, the music supervisor and arranger for Hamilton, and fellow music director and conductor Roberto Sinha. (Photo courtesy of Ling)
Do What You Love, Love What You Do鈥nd Never Stop Learning
鈥淓ducation never stops,鈥� explains Ling, who in addition to emphasizing the critical role of hands-on experience, is set on earning her doctorate degree. At Teachers College, Ling is hoping to explore the concept and approach of music literacy, specifically for actors. 鈥淚 want to learn how to teach it to my mentees and peers so that it isn鈥檛 just a foreign language. It should be something everyone can embody, regardless of their background.鈥�
The Chinese-Canadian music director shares that she鈥檚 been 鈥渇ortunate enough鈥� to have her passion as her career, something many people do not experience. She credits two virtues, patience and humility, in staying grounded. 鈥淭here are many factors that lead up to that first downbeat on opening night or that first band rehearsal,鈥� she explains. 鈥淏ut if you exercise patience and realize there鈥檚 always room for improvement, you鈥檙e golden.鈥�
鈥淢usic direction is a trade. The only way to learn is to watch; listen more and speak less.鈥�
Invest in Future Generations
鈥淚 believe mentoring and supporting young people is what fuels me everyday,鈥� says Ling. She's an advocate for education and a mentor for two organizations, and , committed to providing visibility, advocacy, and support resources to marginalized and underrepresented populations in the musical theater space.
Immigrant outreach, in particular, is close to her heart. Ling mentors students in her home country of China, using her cultural translation skills and fluency in Cantonese and Mandarin to impart some of her advice and experiences. 鈥淚 am lucky to have such a specific, different perspective than most in my industry,鈥� she says.
鈥淚 entered the industry almost a decade before any social or political upheaval or support鈥s a woman and a person of Asian descent, I feel compelled to advocate for change. How can we rebuild the system?鈥� She explains that while she鈥檚 incredibly introverted, she wants to 鈥渟hare her voice for those who are willing to listen鈥�, so that everyone can have a seat at the table.
We are CLAIMING OUR SPACE.
Looking Ahead
For Ling, her time at Teachers College in the Big Apple has been transformative, to say the least. 鈥淭eachers College has completely changed my trajectory regarding how I think creatively as a conductor and leader,鈥� says Ling. She adds that two courses led by 麻豆原创鈥檚 Randall Allsup, Creative Problem Solving and Music and Philosophical Perspective in Music Education, have been instrumental in her experience.
Most recently, she鈥檚 putting what she鈥檚 learned into practice while she music directs , a heart-filled musical based on Alexander Shiva鈥檚 Peabody Award-winning documentary. The musical follows a group of young adults with autism spectrum disorder preparing for their first spring formal in Columbus, Ohio.
鈥淭his project is like nothing I鈥檝e ever worked on before,鈥� says Ling. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned so much about the neuro-divergent community. I鈥檝e used everything from my creative toolbelt to shed light on this as not just a story, but as a piece of advocacy.鈥�
In the words of 贬补尘颈濒迟辞苍鈥�s very own Lin Manuel Miranda, she adds, 鈥淲hat is a legacy? It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.鈥�
鈥淚 truly believe that my time at 麻豆原创 and how I use what I鈥檝e learned afterward is just that 鈥� 鈥榩lanting seeds in a garden I never get to see,鈥欌�� she concludes. 鈥淚 may not witness it in my lifetime, but I鈥檓 hopeful that my work will inspire future generations far after I鈥檓 gone.鈥�