Chung, Kyung-Wha (1948–)

Korean-born violinist. Name variations: Chung Trio. Born Mar 26, 1948, in Seoul, South Korea; dau. of Lee Won-Suk (mother); sister of Myung-Wha Chung (cellist) and Myung-Whung Chung (pianist and conductor who was appointed music director of Opéra de la Bastille, Paris, 1989); studied with Ivan Galamian at Juilliard School, 1960–67; later coached by Joseph Szigeti; children: Frederick, Eugene.

Famed violinist, one of most soughtafter on the international stage, was born into a musical family of 7 children, each of whom received musical instruction and 3 of whom became world-class musicians; began playing violin by age 6; at 12, moved to NY (1960) to study; made debut with New York Philharmonic (1967); made sensational European debut at Royal Festival Hall with André Previn and London Symphony Orchestra playing Tchaikovsky Concerto (1970); appeared in recitals worldwide and with virtually every major conductor and orchestra in North America, Europe and Far East, including London Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Philadelphia Orchestra; recorded extensively with EMI Classics, Deutsche Grammaphon, London/Decca and RCA, earning critical acclaim as well as Gramophone Award for recording of Bartok's Violin Concerto No. 2 (1988); appeared regularly with brother and sister as the Chung Trio; recordings include Mendelssohn Concerto (1972), Beethoven's Piano Trios Op 11 and 97 with Chung Trio (1994), Brahms' Violin Sonatas with pianist Peter Frankl (1998), Brahms Concerto recorded live with Vienna Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle (2000), Vivaldi's Four Seasons with St. Luke's Chamber Orchestra (2001). Awarded South Korean government's highest honor, medal of Civil Merit (1972).