This summer, Sunkyung Hwang (DMA ’09) presents Suzuki training sessions in Bali, Indonesia (June 24-29) and Manila, Philippines (July 2-8). Formerly a tenured professor of Yewon Arts University, Sunkyung has refocused her attention to the Suzuki Method and teaching a variety of students ranging from age 3 to trainees.
Acclaimed as “brilliant, elegant in style and totally dependable cellist” after her solo debut at Seoul Art Center with the Seoul Orchestra, Sunkyung Hwang has performed as soloist with the Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra (Korea) and Melbourne Festival Orchestra (Australia), amongst numerous others. She has also been featured in the Gumho Young Artist Concert Series and the 21st Century Soloist Chamber Series by the Korea Broadcasting System.
Sunkyung’s real pursuit for cello started at the preparatory school of the Korea National University of Arts, under Professors Minja Hyun and Sookjung Lee. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree from Yonsei University, her interest in teaching brought her to study with Mineo Hayashi at the International Suzuki School in Matsumoto, Japan. She then entered Yale University on a full scholarship, studying under Professor Aldo Parisot and the Tokyo String Quartet. Upon completing her Master’s degree from Yale, she continued pursued a Doctoral degree at The University of Texas at Austin under Professor Bion Tsang.
Born in Korea, Sunkyung grew up in a Suzuki environment. Her father, a Suzuki violin teacher, trained under Dr. Suzuki, himself, and Sunkyung experienced the Suzuki method for 6 years as a violinist before studying the Suzuki method as a cellist. While a student, she attended the Suzuki Conference several times in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia. She took Suzuki Teacher Training courses in Korea, Japan and the United States with Professors Kyungik Hwang, Minja Hyun, Mineo Hayashi, Gilda Barston, Pam Davenport, Takao Mizushima, and Melissa Kraut.
Now a Suzuki cello teacher trainer in the Korea Suzuki Association, Sunkyung is also a Professor in charge of Suzuki majors at the Kookmin University Graduate School and a cello instructor at Sunhwa Arts Middle School.
Sunkyung enjoys balancing life as a teacher and a performer. Besides being a soloist in concerto concerts, she also has held solo recitals in the USA and Korea. As a chamber musician, she was a member of Prism String Quartet, Yale Cellos, Trio Ui and Principal Cellist of the W Philharmonic Orchestra and Korea Suzuki String Orchestra.
This weekend, Tsz To Wong (DMA ’24) performs as substitute cellist with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Established in 1912 and currently led by Music Director Robert Spano, the FWSO is deeply committed to uniting its community through performance, education, and outreach, reaching an audience of more than 200,000 annually. As the principal resident company of the acoustically superb Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall, the Orchestra performs a full season of concerts featuring internationally acclaimed guest artists and works by living composers. The Orchestra performs and partners with the Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera, The Cliburn, and Performing Arts Fort Worth. Each summer at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, the FWSO presents Concerts In The Garden, a series of family-friendly concerts that have become a city-wide tradition. The FWSO keeps exceptional musical experiences at the heart of its community.
Next Wednesday, March 15, the SXSW Official ATX Composers Showcase returns! Brought to you by Golden Hornet and KMFA Classical 89.5, the official SXSW event presents an array of local new music artists and contemporary classical talent during the height of the city-wide festival.
Do you struggle to keep up during lessons or rehearsals? Do you work without a private teacher? Do you wish you could practice more or better? Kyklos with Dr K may be right for you!
Austin Camerata (with artistic director Daniel Kopp, MM ’18) and Ventana Ballet join forces this weekend for “Variations on a Love Theme,” an evening of love stories shared through music and dance, featuring musical works by Debussy, Piazzolla, Radiohead, and more, with two shows per night (Show 1 – 6pm doors, 6:30pm show; Show 2 – 8pm doors, 8:30pm show) on Friday and Saturday, February 17 and 18, at the First Street Studio Theater. Complimentary parking is available onsite, and refreshments will be provided. Each show lasts approximately 1 hour. For more ticket, venue and more information, visit 
Dylan Rieck (MM ’09) has composed a new sonata for cello and piano! You can hear Dylan’s “Sonata No. 1 in C minor” on YouTube at:
Revealer, the third studio album by American musician Madison Cunningham, has won the award for Best Folk Album at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards. David Campbell (MM ’10, DMA ’14) can be heard on the cello supporting Madison in the fifth track, “Life According to Raechel,” which was written by Cunningham with string arrangements by John Arndt and produced by Tyler Chester. Revealer was released on September 9, 2022, through Verve Forecast Records.
Tsz To Wong (DMA ’24) joins Kelvin Ka Long Lee (MM ’19, AD ’22) as two of only eight cellists invited to the live final round of the Section Cello auditions of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Established in 1947 and currently led by Music Director Jaap van Zweden, the HK Phil is recognised as Asia’s foremost classical orchestra, presenting more than 150 concerts per season over a 44-week season, the HK Phil attracts more than 200,000 music lovers annually. In 2019 the HK Phil received the prestigious Gramophone Orchestra of the Year Award—the first orchestra in Asia to receive this distinction.
Longhorn Cellos 