Jia Cao appointed principal cello of South Dakota Symphony Orchestra
Jia Cao '13 MM, '14 AD has been appointed principal cello of South Dakota Symphony Orchestra.
Ms. Cao received her B.M. from Bard College Conservatory of Music, studying with Peter Wiley and Sophie Shao, as well as a B.A. in Social Studies from Bard College. She received a Master of Music degree and Artist Diploma from the Yale School of Music, where she studied with Aldo Parisot. Her extensive performing experience includes a solo debut with the Youth Orchestra of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2005, being awarded the silver medal the 2010 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in South Bend, Indiana, and numerous festival appearances throughout the world.
About the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra
Formed in 1922 in conjunction with Augustana College as “The Town and Gown” the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra was incorporated in November of 1965 as the Sioux Falls Symphony, and finally declared the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra in 1985 by proclamation of Governor William Janklow. In 1978, the Dakota String Quartet was formed as the first full-time, salaried musicians with the orchestra. The Dakota Wind Quintet was formed in 1982, taking the number of full-time musicians up to 9. Maestro Delta David Gier became the Music Director in 2004 and has taken the orchestra to unprecedented artistic levels.
