Mr. James Choi

Indiana Univ. Jacob’s School of Music—pedagogical training with Mimi Zweig and Brenda Brenner blending teachings of Suzuki, Rolland and Zweig. Semesterly lessons with Joshua Bell.
Korea National University of the Arts with Nam Yun Kim.
Principal teachers include: Celia Volov, Julie Athayde, Zoya Leybin, Paul Biss, Henryk Kowalski, Federico Agostini, Nam Yun Kim.

-1 of 40 violinists in the world and 1 of 10 American violinists to successfully audition into the Schleswig Holstein Musik Festival.
-1 of 15 violinists in the world to be invited to the Moritzburg Academy.
-Invited to the Great Mountains Music Festival as a “rising star”.
-Aspen Fellow.
+other extensive performance experiences.

Now teaching only due to injury.

Faculty, Holy Names University
Violin Coach, Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra
Director, Advanced Suzuki Institute

Studios in Oakland, Concord, Dublin and Fremont.
Accepting new students if schedule permits.
Please e-mail for more information.

“Talent is like the cherry on a cake. Which is more important, the cherry or the cake? The cherry is such a small component of the cake that most of us would not care for it. So then, why, so much emphasis on talent?

Most of us don’t work hard enough for talent to even be part of the equation. The bulk of the work for parents and teachers should be on nurturing hard-work, excellence and passion for music, through love. Let us first build the most beautiful cake we can, then we can talk about the cherry.”—James Choi