Lin Ma was appointed Principal Clarinetist of the National Symphony Orchestra by Gianandrea Noseda in 2018. Prior to joining the NSO, he has served as Assistant Principal and E-flat Clarinetist of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra since 2015. He also played a one-year position as Second Clarinet in the Houston Symphony. Ma earned his Master of Music degree at Rice University, under the tutelage of Richie Hawley, and he holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he studied with Richard Hawkins. Ma has also studied at the Idyllwild Arts Academy with Yehuda Gilad, and the Middle School attached to the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing with Yuanfu Huang. Ma is a Buffet Crampon Performing Artist, and he plays on Vandoren reeds and mouthpieces.