About PACO

Jory Fankuchen, violin & resident director

Conductor, violinist, and composer Jory Fankuchen has built a reputation as an engaging performer of many genres, as well as a passionate pedagogue. His many ensembles include the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra where he was recently named Principal Conductor, the Magik Magik Orchestra, Squid Inc, the Musical Art Quintet, the Chamber Music Society of San Francisco, and he appears as a regular guest with the New Century Chamber Orchestra. Jory has appeared as soloist with the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, the Berkeley Symphony, at the Tanglewood Music Center, and has the distinction of performing on Jascha Heifetz's Guarneri del Gesu violin at the Legion of Honor. Recently, he premiered his Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra with the PACO orchestra. In addition to being the Principal Conductor of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, Jory has appeared as guest conductor with the Berkeley Symphony, and is Resident Conductor of the Debut and Sinfonia Palo Alto Chamber Orchestras. Chamber music has always been the driving force behind Jory's passion for music. He has performed in concert with artists such as Robert Mann, Joseph Silverstein, Joel Krosnick, Bonnie Hampton, Mark Sokol, and Ian Swensen. As first violinist of the Kailas String Quartet, he performed throughout North America, winning first prize in the Chamber Music International Competition, and silver at the National Fischoff Competition.  Jory serves on the jury for the Irving Klein competition and is on the faculty of the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, Young Chamber Musicians, and has been a visiting lecturer at Cornell University. He holds a B.M. from the San Francisco Conservatory, and an M.M. from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Ian Swensen and Lucy Chapman, respectively.