Emily Mariko Eng, D.M.A.

Originally from New Hampshire, Dr. Emily Mariko Eng currently serves on the music faculty at University of North Carolina Asheville, where she is Director of Wind Bands and teaches courses in conducting, composition, songwriting and ear training. Emily also holds the position of Music Director of the Blue Ridge Orchestra. She earned a DMA in Conducting from the University of Georgia, an MM in Conducting from New England Conservatory and a BS in Biochemistry and Music Composition from Brandeis University. Her research and artistic interests include fostering comprehensive musicianship in the college music curriculum and facilitating collaborative creative processes.

At UNCA, Emily leads the Wind Ensemble, Songwriters Ensemble, and Pep Band, teaches classes in Aural Skills, Composition, Music Literature, and Conducting, and advises students in undergraduate research and creative projects. Since 2023, Emily has led creativity programs for highschoolers at UNCA’s Music Composition & Songwriting Pre-College Program.

As conductor and composer-songwriter, Emily’s experience spans genres, often crossing out of the classical sphere into popular and contemporary music. She serves on the board of URSA Asheville, an organization dedicated to producing and promoting new jazz works. At UGA, Emily was involved with the Athens Hip Hop Harmonic at its inception, serving as conductor for its inaugural set of performances and recordings. Emily has built close collaborative relationships with composers and has premiered works by Jay Sanders, Kevin Day, Badie Khaleghian, and Ayako Pederson-Takeda. 

Emily has presented at the Midwest Clinic, the Percussive Arts Society International Conference, and the Maryland Music Educators Association Conference. She is a member of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA) and was also inducted as an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi.