Born in the UK, Jason Lai began his musical studies at the age of eleven and was awarded a scholarship to Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester, to study cello with Raphael Wallfisch and Gillian Thoday. In 1993 he was awarded a Hadow Scholarship to read music and composition at Oxford University. During his time at Oxford he was invited by the Allegri Quartet to join them for several performances in the University and on tour in the UK, he was also appointed Music Director of the Oxford University Philharmonia which gave him his first chances to conduct major repertoire.