CCM alumna wins second prize at La Maestra International Competition for Women Conductors

The La Maestra International Competition for Women Conductors was founded in 2019 as a joint initiative between the Philharmonie de Paris and the Paris Mozart Orchestra. Open only to women, the competition offers not only cash prizes, but also an Academy that provides selected candidates with professional support for two years. The first winner of the competition in 2020 was also a CCM alumna — Rebecca Tong (MM Orchestral Conducting, ‘14).

The 2026 edition of the competition recently came to a close at the Philharmonie de Paris, and the final saw four conductors lead both the Paris Mozart Orchestra and the Orchestre de Paris: Mojca Lavrenčič (first prize), Jiajing Lai (second prize), Alizé Léhon (third prize) and Molly Turner.

Jiajing Lai is a dynamic conductor holding roles as Assistant Conductor of the China NCPA Orchestra and Pre-College Faculty at The Tianjin Juilliard School, where she leads both choral and string ensembles. Recognized as one of China’s most promising young conductors, her recent highlights include serving as Resident Conductor for the 2023 Tianjin Juilliard Piano Festival and leading the commemorative concert for the 50th anniversary of China–Spain diplomatic relations.

Her distinguished trajectory includes winning Second Prize at the 1st OFUNAM International Conducting Competition and being selected as a semi-finalist at the prestigious La Maestra competition in Paris. She made her acclaimed debut at the NCPA in 2018, conducting the premiere of the chamber opera A Story About Growing Up.

Her training includes master classes with Bernard Haitink and studies at the Gstaad Conducting Academy under Jaap van Zweden, leading to her European debut in 2017. She holds a master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from CCM and a bachelor’s degree from the Central Conservatory of Music, where she is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree.