Choong-Jin Chang

A native of Seoul, Korea, Choong-Jin (C.J) Chang became principal viola of The Philadelphia Orchestra in 2006 after having joined the Orchestra in 1994. He made his performance debut as a 12-year-old violinist with the Seoul Philharmonic as winner of the grand prize in Korea’s Yook Young National Competition. In 1981, at the age of 13, he moved to the United States to attend the Juilliard School of Music. He subsequently studied in Philadelphia at the Esther Boyer College of Music of Temple University and at the Curtis Institute of Music, from which he received degrees in both violin and viola. His primary teachers were Jascha Brodsky and retired Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Viola Joseph dePasquale.

Mr. Chang made a successful solo debut recital at Carnegie Hall in 2007 and since then he has appeared in numerous recitals in the United States and South Korea. In 2008 he was featured as a soloist with The Philadelphia Orchestra during its Asian Tour, performing in Seoul and Shanghai, and its summer residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. He made his Philadelphia Orchestra subscription solo debut in 2009 and appeared again last year with Walton’s Viola Concerto. Last April he played Berlioz’s Harold in Italy with the Busan Philharmonic in the final concert of Korea’s 2011 Orchestra Festival. As a chamber musician, Mr. Chang performs with the world’s great musicians at many prestigious festivals throughout the United States and Asia.

Mr. Chang is a founding member of the Johannes Quartet, whose debut performances at Philadelphia’s Ethical Society and at Carnegie Hall in New York City received glowing reviews. Since 1997 the Quartet has performed to audience and critical acclaim throughout the United States. The Quartet recently premiered Esa-Pekka Salonen’s new quartet, Homunculus, and William Bolcom’s new octet, Double Quartet, with the Guarneri Quartet. 

Alongside his extensive performing activities, Mr. Chang is a respected teacher on both violin and viola. Among his former pupils are current members of The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra, as well as many winners of major competitions. He currently serves on the faculties of Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts and Temple Music-Prep.

Photo: Bonnie Gu