Jenny Lin Foundation Orchestra Director Steps Down

Cary Nasatir conducting a Jenny Lin Concert from a few years ago (pre covid) Photo credit: Scott Morgan

Cary Nasatir has been a band or orchestra director for the Jenny Lin Summer Music Program for 22 years. This year he has opted to step down from the podium. The Foundation has hired Travis Nasatir, Cary’s son, to take his place. Cary will still be involved because he will be the MC for the concert, which will take place on July 16, 2022, at 6:30 at Chabot College. 

“It has been a fantastic and fulfilling ride for me personally, but it seems the right time to let a younger generation take over the artistic leadership of the Foundation’s work,” said Castro Valley local Cary Nasatir. 

The Jenny Lin Foundation grew out of the 1994 brutal murder of Canyon Middle School student Jenny Lin. At that time the Castro Valley community came together with Jenny’s Parents John and Mei-lian Lin to produce a small but moving concert.  This concert grew into an annual event providing thousands of Bay Area school-aged musicians the opportunity to participate in safe music events each summer, learn leadership skills, build music relationships and community while keeping their music muscles flexed when school was out on summer recess.

“It was always my goal to select challenging music that Jenny would have enjoyed performing,” Nasatir said.

The Summer music program is preparing for its 28th season. 

For more information on the Jenny Lin Foundation and the orchestra, band, and choir:  jennylinfoundation.org.