Jeri Lynne Johnson
Conductor

Jeri Lynne Johnson, Founder and Artistic Director of the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, is a trailblazing conductor, innovative cultural leader, and creative world builder. Her conducting and programming work consistently blends musical excellence, social impact, and the expansion of classical music traditions. She has collaborated with artists across genres including Solange Knowles, Jay Z, The Roots, John Williams, Wycliffe Gordon, among others. The first African American woman to win the international Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship, she has led ensembles including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Sao Paulo Municipal Symphony Orchestra, and Weimar Staatkapelle. She is founder and creative visionary of the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, recognized nationally for excellence and innovative audience engagement. As Artistic Director, Johnson continues to expand the orchestral canon while advancing the growth of creative agency in communities and their inclusion in the arts.