Hong-Guang Jia

Hong-Guang Jia, currently assistant concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, began violin lessons at the age of six with his father in Shenyang, China. He later studies with professor Yao Ji Lin at the world-renowned Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

When Yehudi Menuhin visited China in 1979, Mr Jia was selected to play for him. Mr Menuhin offered Hong-Guang a full scholarship to the Menuhin International Music Academy in Gstaad, Switzerland. After completing his studies with Menuhin and Alberto Lysy in Switzerland, Mr Jia came to the United States to participate in the Tanglewood Festival where he was the concertmaster of the Music Center Orchestra. Raphael Druian subsequently offered Hong-Guang full scholarship to study with him at Boston University.

Before being hired by Lorin Maazel as assistant concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony, Mr Jia held positions with the Baltimore Symphony and Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, where he also served as assistant concertmaster under Chrales Dutoit.

Hong-Guang Jia has performed recitals in Europe, Asia and throughout North and South Americas and has been recorded by the BBC in London and the CBC in Beijing. He performed the Brahms Violin Concerto with Menuhin directing the Central Philharmonic in Beijing and played chamber music with Menuhin at festivals in Gstaad and Paris. Mr Jia has also appeared as soloist with the Camarata Lysy, the Pittsburgh Symphony and with Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Charles Dutoit conducting.

In June 2004, Hong-Guang Jia returned to China for the first time in almost twenty years. He performed recitals in Beijing and Shenyang and taught master classes at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and the Conservatory of Music in Shenyang. Both conservatories honoured him with appointments as Guest Professot of Violin – an especially great honour in Beijing with the likes of Anna-Sophie Mutter and Isaac Stern holding the same title. Mr Jia is also a faculty member of the Duquesne University School of Music in Pittsburgh.