Upon the completion of a critically acclaimed tenure as NJSO Music Director, the 2010–11 season marks Neeme Järvi's second as NJSO Conductor Laureate. His engaging presence and masterful conducting have earned him the highest honors throughout the world and have won the hearts of his audiences. Järvi continues to champion new artists and has brought some of the brightest new stars in classical music to New Jersey’s concert halls, as well as presenting great artists with established reputations.

In addition to the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Järvi conducts orchestras and opera companies around the world. He is Chief Conductor of The Hague Residentie Orchestra in the Netherlands, Music Director Emeritus of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Principal Conductor Emeritus of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (National Orchestra of Sweden), Conductor Laureate of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and First Principal Guest Conductor of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. Born in Tallinn, Estonia and an American citizen since 1987, Järvi is one of the world’s busiest conductors.

Maestro Järvi has amassed a distinguished discography repertoire that includes over 350 recordings on the Deutsche Grammophon, Chandos, BIS, Orfeo, EMI and BMG labels. Many international accolades and awards have been bestowed upon him. In Estonia , these include an honorary doctorate from the Music Academy of Estonia in Tallinn, and the Order of the National Coat of Arms from the President of the Republic of Estonia. Mr. Lennart Meri, the mayor of Tallinn, presented Maestro Järvi with the city's first-ever ceremonial sash and coat of arms insignia, and he has been named one of the “Estonians of the Century”. Neeme Järvi holds an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Detroit's Wayne State University, as well as honorary degrees from the University of Aberdeen (Scotland), the Royal Swedish Academy of Music and the University of Michigan; and Commander of the North Star Order from King Karl Gustav XVI of Sweden.

Maestro Neeme Järvi is married to Liilia Järvi , and their two sons Paavo and Kristjan are also conductors. Their daughter Maarika is a flutist.

American conductor Jeffrey Grogan comes to the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra from his most recent post as Director of Orchestras and Associate Professor at the Ithaca College School of Music. His humanistic leadership style, coupled with a strong command of skills as a musical communicator, has earned him an impressive reputation as a teacher, lecturer and clinician. He is in demand in these roles with music programs throughout the country.
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A member of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra's viola section since 1991, Henry Kao also occasionally performs with the orchestra as a violinist. He received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in violin performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Raphael Bronstein and Ariana Bronne; and a Professional Studies Certificate in viola performance from the Mannes College of Music under Sol Greitzer’s tutelage.
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