Justin Kang, 15, hails from Laveen, Arizona. He studies cello with Jamie Kellogg and piano with Snezana Krstic. Justin is currently the principal cellist for his school orchestra and the associate principal cellist in the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestra's Symphony Orchestra.
Justin has garnered multiple accolades in both piano and string competitions including the XII International Piano Competition Smederevo, the Opus National Music Competition (Piano), the MTNA Piano Performance State Competition, the Steinway/Avanti Future Stars Competition, the Arizona International Music Competition (cello and piano), the Charleston International Piano Competition, the American Music Talent Competition, the Arizona Musicfest Competition (piano, cello, and chamber ensemble), the American String Teachers Association, the Arizona Cello Society’s Solo Competition, the AMEA Solo and Ensemble Competition (cello), and the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras’ (PYSO) Annual Young Artist Competition, where Justin was awarded the 2024 Jean & Robert Frankeberger Grand Prize. Winning the Young Artist Competition led to Justin’s debut as a soloist, performing the Elgar Cello Concerto with the Phoenix Symphony.
Justin is one of the first recipients of From the Top’s Tim Banker Talent Development Award, which supported his attendance at the 2024 Boston Tanglewood Young Artist Program, where he served as the principal cellist in their final concert at Seiji Ozawa Hall. He also served as a principal cellist at the 2023 YOLA National Festivals at Walt Disney Concert Hall with Gustavo Dudamel and as the associate principal cellist for the 2024 AMEA High All-State Orchestra.
Justin has performed in piano masterclasses by esteemed artists including Aviram Reichert,
Sean Chen, Alan Chow, Pavlina Dokovska, Douglas Humphrey, Yuri Kot, and Elisabeth Pridonoff. Additionally, he has performed in cello masterclasses led by Steven Isserlis and Noriko Kishi.
In 2020, Justin co-founded Bridge to Music, a student organization with a mission to connect music with the community. He also volunteers as a radio host at Heart and Seoul Gospel Ministries and plays the cello for his church. In his free time, Justin enjoys music production, playing volleyball, and serving in his school’s yearbook club.
