Brian Hong, Violist

Brian Hong is the Assistant Professor of Viola at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He has performed as soloist with the Juilliard Orchestra, New York Classical Players, Fairfax Symphony, American Youth Philharmonic, Chesapeake Orchestra, US Army Orchestra, National Philharmonic, and the Springfield Symphony. A former member of the GRAMMY-nominated Aizuri Quartet, Mr. Hong also serves on the viola faculty of Kneisel Hall Chamber Music School and Festival. Other festival credits include Marlboro, Yellow Barn, the Music Academy of the West, Taos School of Music, and the Perlman Music Program.

In high demand as an educator, Mr. Hong was previously on the viola faculty at Bard College Conservatory of Music. He has taught private lessons, public masterclasses, and chamber coachings at George Mason University, Missouri State University, and The Juilliard School. He holds a Master’s Degree and Artist Diploma from The Juilliard School and a Bachelor’s Degree from the New England Conservatory. His former teachers include Laurie Smukler, Catherine Cho, Donald Weilerstein, and Li Lin. As a former Fellow of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect, he performed and taught in a variety of venues in New York City and abroad, as well as maintaining a two-year teaching-artist partnership with Celia Cruz High School for Music in the Bronx.

Mr. Hong is an equally accomplished music administrator. As the Program Manager of the Vital Sounds Initiative for Project: Music Heals Us, he has helped to provide one-on-one virtual bedside concerts to over 20,000 unique hospital patients. He is also a Co-Artistic Director of NEXUS Chamber Music, the resident ensemble at Guarneri Hall. In his spare time, Mr. Hong can be found brewing espresso or single origin pour-overs at his home coffee bar.