NEW YORK MUSIC SCHOOL - Key Persons
Violinist and pianist Bora Kim is from Toronto, Canada, where she made her soloist debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 2009 at Roy Thomson Hall. She has also performed as a soloist with the Canadian Sinfonietta, Oakville Chamber Orchestra, Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra, Vermont Mozart Festival Orchestra, and Niagara Chamber Orchestra. She has given solo recitals and performances at all the major venues in the city, including the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, the Toronto Centre for the Arts, the Carlu, the Living Arts Centre, the Canadian Broadcasting Center's "Glenn Gould Studio," and was invited as a special guest for a live performance interview on both instruments for Toronto's Classical 96.3 FM.
Ms. Kim's recent highlights include a performance with Sejong Soloists at Carnegie Hall, recitals in the Netherlands as part of the Holland Music Sessions, performance with pianist Emanuel Ax at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, and masterclass for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York. An avid chamber musician and winner of the Yale School of Music Chamber Competition, her piano trio has given performances at Steinway Hall in New York, as well as a lecture recital at the Whitney Humanities Center in New Haven.
As a winner of the Canada Council's 2018 Instrument Bank Competition, Ms. Kim was awarded the three-year loan of a 1747 Januarius Gagliano violin. She has won First Prize from various national competitions, including the Canadian Music Competitions, and represented Ontario at the 2009 National Music Festival.
Job Titles:
- Member of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Cellist Hyewon Kim, a member of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, has been on cello faculty at New York Music School since 2013. She has served as a chamber music coach in the school's Intensive Programs directed by Hyo Kang. Ms. Kim's students have been admitted to the Juilliard Pre-College Division and awarded top prize at the Little Mozart Competition. They also have engaged in various musical activities such as participating in outreach concerts, as well as the New York State School Music Association and Royal Conservatory Music exams.
Ms. Kim has made appearances in various concert venues including Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, the Korea Society and Merkin Concert Hall. She has recorded with Gil Shaham and Sejong Soloists as part of Shaham's 1930s Violin Concertos project released on Canary Classics. She has been invited to perform as a guest artist with Ars Antiqua de Paris and at New Year's Eve concerts hosted by Korea's Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, and was also featured in the Japan-America Institute for New Music concert and the Young Musicians Concert of Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. She performed in the New Juilliard Ensemble and New York String Seminar Orchestra under the direction of Jaime Laredo. She has served as principal and associate principal cellist of the Juilliard Orchestra under the batons of Alan Gilbert, James Levine and Itzhak Perlman.
At age thirteen, Ms. Kim appeared as a soloist performing the Brahms Double Concerto with the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra. She also performed the Dvořák Cello Concerto with the Lehman Symphony Orchestra and the Elgar Cello Concerto with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the ECSO competition. The Day described her performance of the Elgar Concerto as "spellbinding" and "mesmerizing". As a recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award, she has appeared on NPR's From the Top.
Hyewon Kim has performed with various artists such as Augustin Hadelich, Frank Huang, Joyce Yang, and Paul Watkins, and has worked with Toby Appel, Eric Bartlett, Ani Kavafian and members of the Juilliard String Quartet and Ying Quartet in her chamber music and orchestral studies. She has performed in masterclasses given by Anner Bylsma, Jeremy Denk, Frans Helmerson and Daniel Müller-Schott. She has attended at Bowdoin International Music Festival as a Performing and Teaching Associate, Sarasota Music Festival, Tanglewood Institute, and served as a member of cello faculty at ArtsAhimsa Music Festival. She has engaged with her community in concerts at hospitals, churches, art galleries, libraries and schools, as well as at the United Nations General Assembly and benefit concerts for North Korea Children's Fund, and for building water wells in Kenya, Africa.
A Native of Saskatchewan, Canada, Chad Armstrong continues to receive acclaim as a distinct performer in productions throughout the USA and Europe. Mr. Armstrong triumphed in his 2013 debut in the title role of Rigoletto with Annapolis Opera. In addition to remarking about his "powerful singing" and "warm resonance," The Capital Gazette said "there was no facet of Rigoletto's character that was not evident in Armstrong's masterful rendition."
In the 2014-2015 season, Mr. Armstrong will reprise the title role of Rigoletto with Long Island Opera. He then returns to Western Plains Opera to sing Escamillo in Carmen, and make his debut with Winter Opera St. Louis as the Count in Le nozze di Figaro. In the Spring, he will be presented by Jane Marsh and the Metropolitan Opera Guild to perform excerpts from Guillaume Tell and Rigoletto.
Recent performances include Tiger Brown in Threepenny Opera with Amarillo Opera, Frank Maurrant in Street Scene with Oklahoma Baptist, Kofel in Strauss' Feursnot with the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, and Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro with Western Plains Opera. Also in 2013, Mr. Armstrong joined NYC's Gotham Chamber Opera to cover the role of Rappaccini in La hija de Rappaccini, and sang the baritone solo in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the Minot Symphony Orchestra.
The 2012 season brought Mr. Armstrong's exciting debut in the role of Sharpless in Puccini's Madama Betterfly with New Rochelle Opera. He also returned to Western Plains Opera to sing Tonio in Pagliacci, and once again to NYC's Dicapo Opera as John Sorel in The Consul. In the Spring of 2011, Chad Armstrong made his debut with the Teatro Comundale di Bologna and the Teatro Luciano Pavarotti in Modena, singing the title role of Luigi Dallapiccola's II Prigioniero. As a winner of the 2009 Mezzo TV Festival and Competition in Szeged, Hungary, Mr. Armstrong made his debut with The National Moravia-Silesian Theatre, singing the role of John Donne in Macro Tutino's Vita. In addition to the performances in Ostrave, Czech Republic, the production was broadcast to over 40 countries from the final round of the competition in Hungary.
Opera Online hailed his Sonora in La Fanciulla del West with Dicapo Opera Theater as "outstanding," pointing out his "strong stage presence, strong vocal delivery and natural acting abilities." Opera News said his Ping in Dicapo's Turandot was "particularly impressive" and he was invited to reprise selections of the role in celebration of Puccini's 150th birthday with the Opera Orchestra of New York under the baton of Maestro Francisco Bonnin in the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center. In New York City alone, engagements have included John Proctor in The Crucible, a brilliant run of Lescaut in Manon Lescaut, Tom Carter in the January 2010 production of Thomas Pasatieri's Hotel Casablanca, and Pope Pius IX in the world premiere of II Caso Martara by Francesco Cilluffo. For his Mercutio with National Lyric Opera, the Cape Cod Gazette applauded him as "a standout…besides stage savvy and animated presence, the artist possessed one of the finest voices in the cast." Other successes in 2009 were Mr. Fox in the NY premiere of Tobias Picker's Fantastic Mr. Fox, Silvio in Pagliacci, Taddeo in L'Italiana in Algeri, and Marcello in Opera in the Hampton's La Boheme.
A Poised and polished concert performer and recitalist, Mr. Armstrong has made several Carnegie Hall appearances, most notably in 2008 as Baritone Soloist in Beethoven's 9thSymphony. For a concert in March 2008 in NYC with Maestro Stephen Osgood, he presented selections from rarely-performed works of the 1920's and 30s commissioned for the Metropolitan Opera. Other concerts have included such works as Puccini's Messa di Gloria and Christof Bergman's Piazza Navona.
Job Titles:
- Columbia Artist Management
Hailed by Sarasota Herald-Tribune as "remarkably skillful performances", Pianist Dr. Hyun Ju Jang has performed on many international stages. Dr. Jang has appeared as a soloist with the Kwachon Philharmonic, Gunpo Philharmonic, Eurasian Chamber Orchestra, Seoul National University Orchestra, Seoul Symphony Orchestra, Yale Chamber Orchestra, Summit Music Festival Orchestra, UConn Symphony Orchestra, Willimantic orchestra, as well as the Lublin Orchestra in Poland. She has also performed at the Norfolk Music Festival, Sarasota Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, Beethoven Institute, International Keyboard Institute at Mannes, Tenerife Music Festival in Spain, International Music Academy in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana in Italy, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Bruno Walter Auditorium, WQXR, Scandinavia House, Permanent mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany in New York, and the Kumho Young Artist Solo Series in South Korea. As a member of Quartet Unlimited, JKL Trio, and Trio Etereo, she has performed in various renowned venues in the United States, Europe, and Asia. She has also worked with international artists such as Yefin Bronfman, Eteri Andjaparidze, Robert Levin, Anton Kuerti, David Shifrin, Stephen Clapp, Boris Berman, and Peter Frankl.
Dr. Jang was the first-prize winner of the Summit Music Festival Concerto Competition in Tarrytown, NY, as well as the UConn Concerto Competition and the Seoul National University Concerto Competition. She won the Segye Ilbo (World News) Competition, the Chosun Ilbo (Korean Newspaper) Competition, the Korean Duo Competition, and the Seoul Symphony Orchestra Competition. She was also the recipient of Elizabeth Parisot Prize at Yale University, awarded to an outstanding pianist, and of EB Storrs scholarship Award from the Musical Club of Hartford.
Dr. Jang holds a Bachelor degree in piano performance from the Seoul National University, a Master degree from the Mannes School of Music, and an Artist Diploma from the Yale School of Music. After graduation, she served as an assistant to her dear mentor Claude Frank and worked as a staff pianist at Yale University. In 2016, she completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Connecticut. Since 2010, Dr. Jang has worked for the Morse Academy Summer Festival at Yale, John C. Daniels School of International Communication, Community School of Arts at UConn, and the BLYAP Summer Music Festival as a piano faculty. She currently resides in New Jersey, and works at Mannes Prep.
Violinist and violist Jiwon Kim has received Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School where she studied with Prof. Hyo Kang and Dr. I-Hao Lee. An avid chamber musician and new music performer, Jiwon has appeared at venues including Carnegie Hall, Elbphilharmonie, Lincoln Center, Spectrum, and National Sawdust. Her world premiere performance of Roberto Sierra's Duo Concertante for violin and viola as part of Summergarden series at the Museum of Modern Art was reviewed by The New York Times and New York Classical Review as "high-energy" and "high quality."
During her studies at Juilliard, Jiwon has been mentored by Andre Emelianoff, Lewis Kaplan, and Joseph Kalichstein among others. As a member of Juilliard Orchestra, she has worked with celebrated conductors such as the late James DePreist, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Alan Gilbert, and Robert Spano. She also has participated in masterclasses by James Ehnes, Garth Knox, Tokyo String Quartet, Anner Bylsma, and Joseph Silverstein at international summer music festivals.
Jiwon has performed at Lucerne Festival Academy, Toronto Summer Music Festival, and New Music for Strings Festival as principal violist. In the past seasons, she has been invited to Banff Chamber Music Residency and Starry Nights Chamber Music Series. Currently, she is pursuing a doctorate degree at Stony Brook University studying under Emerson String Quartet, Jennifer Frautschi, and Nicholas Cords. Jiwon serves on violin and viola faculty of New York Music School.
Jiwon's former and current students have been accepted to Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, and Mannes Pre-College programs, and youth orchestra programs such as New York Youth Symphony, NJSO Youth Orchestra, Region & All-State Orchestras, Manhattan String Orchestra, Bergen Youth Orchestra, and Camerata Youth Orchestra. They also have won top prizes at international music competitions including Camerata Artists International, Rondo Young Artist, Little Mozarts, Crescendo International, International Grande, New York International, and VIVO International Music Competitions and have performed at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, DiMenna Center, Bruno Walter Auditorium, and Symphony Space.
Megan Shumate Beaumont is a freelance performer and teacher in the New York City and Northern New Jersey area. She plays in orchestras such as the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, Albany Symphony, and American Symphony Orchestra. Megan regularly works as a substitute musician in the Broadway pits for Wicked and Phantom of the Opera. She plays clarinet, bass clarinet, e-flat clarinet, and saxophone.
A West Virginia native, Megan has been performing since the age of four. She began her studies with voice and piano before developing a love for the clarinet. In December 2014, she earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and a Masters of Music degree from Florida State University. Her major clarinet teachers include Alan Kay, Frank Kowalsky, Howard Klug and Eli Eba n. As an advocate for new music, she has participated in various commissions and premieres of new works.
In addition to performing, Megan enjoys sharing her love of music with her students. Over the past 15 years, she has taught students from beginner to collegiate level. Dr. Beaumont currently teaches clarinet and saxophone at New York Music School, Encore Music Studio, NJ Academy of Music, and Yamaha Conservatory. She has been on faculty at the Preparatory Division of Bard College Conservatory of Music teaching clarinet, saxophone, and musicianship and at Bard Summer Music Camps. She has served on adjunct faculty at Georgia College and State University, Mercer University, and Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, where she taught clarinet lessons and coached chamber music.
When not looking for the perfect reed, Megan enjoys reading, coffee, and spending time with her husband and young son in their NJ home.
Minji Kwon joined the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra in the 2015 - 16 season. She has performed throughout the world as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra player. Kwon is the prize winner of the OSAKA International Music Competition, George Gershwin International Competition, Forte International Music Competition, National Symphony Orchestra Competition and Seoul Symphony Orchestra Competition.
She has also appeared as soloist with the State Philharmonic Orchestra Rzeszow in Poland, Seoul Symphony Orchestra, Seoul National Symphony Orchestra, Degu Philharmonic Orchestra, Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, Hyup Strings Ensemble and Seoul National University String Ensemble. She has performed in solo recitals at Kumho Art Hall and EwonCulture Center.
"Stylish clarinetist" by New York Times, Paul Wonjin Cho has performed throughout Asia, Australia, Europe and the US with the organizations of MET Opera Orchestra, New Haven Symphony, Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony, Tanglewood Music Center, Youth Orchestra of the Americas and Asian Youth Orchestra.
Currently as a principal clarinetist of the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, he was featured as a soloist on Mozart clarinet concerto which he played on a basset clarinet. Also Mr. Cho has served as a guest principal clarinetist in American Symphony Orchestra and Vermont Symphony Orchestra for the past 2 years.
Additional to his teaching position at New York Music School, Mr. Cho teaches at Horace Mann School, Adelphi University. He also taught at PS 200 in Brooklyn as a fellow of the Ensemble Connect.
Ms. Yadi Liang was born in China and began playing the piano at age six. After earned her Bachelor of Music degree at the China Conservatory, she came to Manhattan School of Music receiving the President's Award and earned her first Master of Music degree in piano under Dr. Arkady Aronov. She received her second Master of Music degree and Professional Studies certificate in the next year in collaborative piano under Dr. Heasook Rhee. She continued to study with Dr. Rhee and is currently a doctoral candidate pursuing a D.M.A. degree.
While studying at the China Conservatory of Music, Ms. Liang received 1st prize in the YAMAHA Music Awards during her junior year and performed at the Beijing International Piano Festival. She also attended the Summit Music Festival in New York in 2011 and 2013. After coming to Manhattan School of Music, Ms. Liang has had various opportunities to play for concerts and competitions, including those at Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, Merkin Hall, 92nd Street Y, as well as masterclasses of renowned teachers of the world, including Pamela Frank, James Galway, Augustin Hadelich, and Robert McDonald. She has also worked as a staff pianist at several music festivals, including Heifetz Institute PEG and Castleman String Quartet Program.
Born in Chicago, Philo Lee started playing cello at age eight. He continued his studies at the Juilliard Pre-Collage division and he was accepted to Yale School of Music Certificate in Performance program where he studied under Aldo Parisot. Mr. Lee received his Bachelor of Music degree at The Juilliard School under the guidance of Natasha Brofsky and furthered his studies at the Manhattan School of Music as a student of Alan Stepansky.
Mr. Lee is currently the principal cellist of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and also is a member of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Also a devoted educator, he has cultivated many talented students around New York and New Jersey through his guidance.
Sara Rossi is a classically trained violist and violinist. She performed as viola soloist with the New Sussex Symphony in 2016, playing Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante. Ms. Rossi served as a substitute violist with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2014. She was the first prize winner of the Converse College Young Artist Competition in 2008, and was a member of the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra throughout her studies at Converse, serving as assistant principal violist during the 2010-2011 season, under the direction of Sarah Ioannides.
As a chamber musician, Ms. Rossi has been coached by renowned musicians, including members of the Brentano, Borromeo, Miró, Shanghai, Tokyo, Orion, and Guarneri string quartets. She participated in the New York String Orchestra Seminar in 2010 and 2011, directed by Jaime Laredo. She has also performed in several music festivals, including the Taos School of Music, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, and the Eastern Music Festival.
Ms. Rossi began her musical studies in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. She was a preparatory violin student at the Cleveland Institute of Music, under the tutelage of Dr. Carol Ruzicka and Paul Kantor. She holds a Master of Music degree from Yale University, where she received a comprehensive scholarship and fellowship. Ms. Rossi graduated with distinction from Converse College in 2011, where she obtained a Bachelor of Music degree as a recipient of the Daniel Scholarship. She was named an Outstanding Alumna of Converse in 2014. Her former instructors in viola include Miles Hoffman, Ettore Causa, and Choong-jin Chang, principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Euntaek Kim, a pianist and conductor.
Violinist Youngsun Kim received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Manhattan School of Music with the dissertation "The Solo Violin Caprice: A Survey of its Evolution from the Eighteenth Century to the Present." Prior to her doctoral studies, Ms. Kim graduated Summa Cum Laude from Seoul National University and holds her Master's degree and Artist Diploma from Yale University.
A native of Korea, Ms. Kim is an active soloist as well as chamber musician in Korea and the United States. She has performed in places such as Hoam Art Hall, Kumho Art Hall, Seongnam Arts Center, and Seoul Arts Center in Korea, and Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, David Geffen Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, and Woolsey Hall in the United States. As an avid chamber musician, Ms. Kim gave performances in Connecticut and New Jersey, and has performed at various chamber music festivals including Kneisel Hall and Norfolk Music Festival. As an orchestral musician, she has been a part of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, KBS Symphony orchestra, Korean Symphony Orchestra, and Seoul Classical Players. Dr. Kim has been a faculty member at New York Music School since 2013.