JULIE PARK
Korean-New Zealander Violist
Appointed as the Associate Principal Violist of the Auckland Philarmonia Orchestra in 2021, Julie Park holds a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland, a Master of Arts with Distinction and an Advanced Diploma from the Royal Academy of Music. She was kindly supported by the ABRSM International Postgraduate Scholarship which provided for full tuition and maintenance during her Master’s degree, and was awarded a DipRAM for gaining full marks in her end of year Master’s recital. She is currently the first violist to graduate with an Advanced Diploma at the Royal Academy of Music, and as one of the prominent Bicentenary Scholars- which provided for a full scholarship, she released her debut solo album with Linn Records in 2022. She is also an artist with the Talent Unlimited Foundation.
As a concerto soloist, Julie has performed with the Baden Baden Philharmonia Orchestra, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, the UOA Symphony Orchestra, the Sainsbury Royal Academy Soloists- directed by acclaimed violinist, Clio Gould, and the Royal Academy of Music String Orchestra under the baton of John Wilson. In June 2021, she performed the world premiere of the Britten Double Concerto arranged for String Orchestra by Colin Matthews with violinist Charlie Lovell-Jones.
Julie was the grand winner of the 2021 Bicentenary Prize Competition held at the prestigious Wigmore Hall in London, and the 2020 Sir Karl Jenkins Classical Music Competition- both as the first violist to do so. She also won the 2016 Viva La Viola competition, APO’s Young Soloist of the year, and gained 2nd place in the 2020 International Anton Rubinstein Viola Competition, ROSL 68th Annual Music Competition- Len Lickorish Memorial Prize for a String Player of Promise, Curtis Young Artist Summer Program Concerto Competition, and the 2017 UOA’s Graduation Gala Concerto Competition in conjunction with the Graduation Gala Development Prize. Julie was also a semi-finalist and recipient of the inaugural Ian Dunsmore Memorial Juror’s prize at the 2016 Gisborne International Music Competition and a semi-finalist of the Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition.
She has performed and been praised by numerous renowned artists such as Kim Kashkashian, Roberto Diaz, Toby Appel, Hartmut Rohde, Nicola Benedetti, Anthony Marwood, Richard O’Neill, David Takeno, Garth Knox, Ivo-Jan van der Werff, Peter Slowik, Thomas Selditz and Robert McDuffie.
As a chamber musician she won several competitions including the Auckland Chamber Music Society Prize Competition at the University of Auckland two years in a row and the 2020 Harold Craxton Piano Prize at the Royal Academy of Music. She made her CD recording debut in 2018 with Atoll Records and will soon be releasing a world premiere CD album consisting of Missy Mazzoli’s complete string quartets/trio works. Her trio won 2nd place in the 2016 SALUT International Performing Arts Competition along with being the official Ensemble in Residence of the 2017 International Akaroa Music Festival.
She has collaborated with artists such as Elisabeth Kufferath, Clio Gould, Jonathan Morton, Lorenza Borrani, Colin Carr, Patrick Messina, Lucy Crowe, Sarah Watkins, Amalia Hall and Ramon Jaffé.
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In 2017-2018, Julie was invited to a fully funded ensemble tour to the UK and Spain as part of the Pettman Ensemble. They were featured on BBC and the Radio 3’s In Tune Series.
As an orchestral musician, Julie has performed principal violist of the Auckland Youth Orchestra, Pettman Chamber Orchestra, University of Auckland Symphony Orchestra, University of Auckland Chamber Orchestra, Curtis Young Artist Symphony Orchestra, NZSO National Youth Orchestra, Royal Academy Symphony Orchestra, Royal Academy Chamber Orchestra, and the Royal Academy Sainsbury Soloists.
Currently she holds a casual member position in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Julie completed the competitive London Symphony Orchestra String Scheme 2018/2019 where she performed Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique with Sir Simon Rattle and Mahler Symphony No.4 with Bernard Haitink. In September 2019, she invited to record with the LSO in the Angel Recording Studio as well as perform in their lunchtime series concert collaborating with members of the LSO.
She has played under numerous renowned conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Bernard Haitink, Edo De Waart, John Wilson, Semyon Bychkov, Richard Gill, Conrad Pope, Jac Van Steen, Brett Mitchell, James MacMillan, Bertrand de Billy, Gemma New, Tung-Chieh Chuang, and Mark Russell Smith.