Hailed by The Day for having “impeccable technique and extraordinary lyricism,” first-year Fellow Justin Park is a cellist of world-class caliber who has been invited as Guest Associate Principal for the Sydney Symphony, Principal for the Auckland Philharmonia and Assistant Principal for the New Zealand Symphony. In the other hemisphere of the world, he has performed in numerous venues across the United States, Canada, South Korea, Germany and Switzerland both as a soloist and ensemble cellist. Making his Carnegie Hall debut at age 13, Mr. Park has had many successful performances in Lincoln Center, American Museum of Natural History in New York and at Les Recontres Musicales Internationales in Belgium, where he was the only performer to receive a standing ovation. He has internationally encapsulated audiences, giving reason for Toshiyuki Shimada, music director of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony, to advise his audience to “remember his name.”

Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Mr. Park began his early cello studies with Dr. Clara Minhye Kim at The Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division and continued his musical education at The Juilliard School for his bachelor of music degree, where he was generously awarded a full Lois Smith and M. & E. Cohen scholarship under the tutelage of Timothy Eddy. He completed his studies at Yale University studying under Aldo Parisot, receiving his master of music degree as part of Aldo Parisot’s final legacy of students.

An active performer in prestigious festivals, Mr. Park served as Principal of the Verbier Festival Orchestra and was also selected as an active participant for the Kronberg Academy Masterclasses, working with Truls Mørk, David Geringas, Frans Helmerson and Gary Hoffman.

From being unanimously voted first prize at the ECSO Instrumental Competition to first prize from the New York Young Musicians Competition and first prize from Island Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition, Mr. Park makes sure to allow for time outside of his craft. When needing mental clarity away from cello, he enjoys online gaming with close friends, rock climbing and being in the mountains, where he is reminded that he is human first, cellist second.