Kristopher Tong

About Kristopher

Considered one of the most exciting musicians emerging today, Violinist Kristopher Tong has been praised for his depth of insight, virtuosity and creative flair. In 2005 Mr. Tong served on the faculty at the Yellow Barn Festival’s Young Artists Program and from he 2002-2004 was Principal Second Violin with the Verbier Festival Orchestra, with whom he toured throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He has appeared under the baton of some of the world’s premier conductors, including James Levine, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Yuri Temirkanov, Kurt Masur, Paavo Jarvi, Mstislav Rostropovich, Kent Nagano, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Charles Dutoit, and Bobby McFerrin. Mr. Tong has performed with Mizayaki Festival Orchestra in Japan, the New York String Orchestra, and appeared as a guest soloist with the Verbier Chamber Orchestra under Dmitri Sitkovetsky and Yuri Bashmet. He was also a member of the original cast of Classical Savion at the Joyce Theater in New York City, a collaborative project with tap dancer Savion Glover.

A native of Binghamton, New York, Mr. Tong began his violin studies in a public elementary school program in the Johnson City School District before moving to Salt Lake City, Utah, when he was 11. As a student of Leonard Braus he was concertmaster of the Utah Youth Symphony for two years at age 15. He received his Bachelors degree at Indiana University in Bloomington, where he studied with the late Franco Gulli, Yuval Yaron, and Miriam Fried. In 2005 he completed his Masters Degree at the New England Conservatory of Music under Ms. Fried.

First generation born in the United States to parents from Hong Kong and Taiwan, Mr. Tong has an older sister, Melissa, who is an accomplished violinist residing in New York City and a younger sister, Jessica, who dances with the famed Hubbard Street contemporary dance company in Chicago.