UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As Penn State alumna Lily Ling, a Chinese-born, Canadian musical director, conductor and educator, has advanced in her career, she has recognized that her impact on the theater industry can reach far beyond the stage. Ling graduated from the University in 2016 with a master of fine arts in music direction.
In early February, Ling — the first female music director for “Hamilton” and the first person of East Asian descent to conduct the production on Broadway — completed a successful run as music director of “How to Dance in Ohio,” a groundbreaking musical that centers on seven youths with autism who are preparing for a formal dance while navigating life’s challenges.
Ling was recently named music director for “Hell’s Kitchen,” a new Broadway musical from 15-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys, which follows 17-year-old character Ali on a journey to find her creative voice. Performances begin on March 28 at the Shubert Theatre and the show officially opens on April 20.
As Ling prepared for her career as part of the Penn State School of Theatre’s second-ever master of fine arts in music direction class, the lack of diversity behind the scenes in the theater industry presented a challenge, she said. It was one she gladly accepted.
“In New York right now, I am the oldest Asian female music director in the industry,” said the 37-year-old Ling. “Not only are there not a lot of women in the position, there are not a lot of women that look like me.”
She said she sees that reality as an opportunity, not a deterrent, and has dedicated much of her time in and out of the theater community to educating, mentoring and fostering diversity.
An opportunity to continue those efforts came with “How to Dance in Ohio.” Seven of the show’s actors were autistic and throughout her year-and-a-half working on the historic production, each day provided an opportunity for growth, said Ling.
“The show pushed me to go beyond my comfort zone as a director and a teacher,” Ling said. “It taught me what it means to be accepting and open, and that you can work at the highest level in a loving and caring way.”
Away from the theater community, Ling embodies her commitment to education and mentorship. She is pursuing a doctoral degree in education at the Teacher’s College of Columbia University and is working with the American Academy of Dramatic Arts to help craft program curriculum for aspiring music directors.
When speaking to students, Ling said her advice is to “immerse yourself in the craft,” and approach it as a trade that requires repetition to improve. For those who are in the early part of their careers, she offered simpler advice.
“Say ‘yes’ to everything,” Ling said. “You can only get better if you’re working.”
Throughout her trailblazing career, Ling has taken every opportunity she could to mentor the younger generation. She has leveraged her success on Broadway to build a platform of outreach to kids across the country, which she said she hopes will have a lasting impact.
“When young girls, especially young Asian girls, see my face," said Ling, "they can hopefully think, ‘I can do that, too.’”