“One of the top ensembles of today” (CNN), Sejong Soloists is a vibrant and virtuosic chamber orchestra based in New York City that pushes the envelope with its commitment to superior musicianship, engaging performances, and the promotion of new works.
Sejong Soloists has been making waves since its inception in 1994. Among its many achievements, the ensemble has: given over 600 performances in more than 120 cities, including on invitation from such venues as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center; served as the Honorary Ambassador of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games; previously served as ensemble-in-residence at the Aspen Music Festival for nine seasons; recorded eight highly-acclaimed albums; collaborated with dozens of leading performers; and premiered twelve original works, most recently its 2023 commission of Tod Machover's Overstory Overture.
With members and alumni in such illustrious concertmaster posts as the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic, as well as faculty positions at world-class institutions including Juilliard and Yale, Sejong Soloists has a three-decade track record of fulfilling its three-fold mission: to make an enriching cultural and social contribution through the beauty of music; to serve as a musical ambassador through performances of the highest caliber; and to nurture the next generation of musical leaders.
An ever-cutting-edge ensemble, Sejong is active in incorporating the latest trends in technology to its artistic endeavors. In 2021, the ensemble partnered with Common Computer to present the first live classical music performance in the metaverse through Gather. In 2022, Sejong Soloists launched the NFT Classics Society (NCS) with AI Network and The Only Moments; NCS serves as a digital community for classical music connoisseurs, and hosts Sejong’s series of NFTs, centered on the “Cobbett” Stradivarius violin and Bach solo violin works.
As Sejong Soloists approaches its 30th year, the ensemble looks not only to continue its history of promoting excellence in music and developing the careers of exceptional young artists, but also to advance the creativity of composers of the present and future. Beginning with Tod Machover’s Overstory Overture, Sejong Soloists establishes an annual festival of new music at Carnegie Hall, curated and presented by living composers, featuring world and NYC premieres. Upcoming partnerships and commissions will come from such composers as Augusta Read Thomas, Unsuk Chin, Texu Kim, and Lera Auerbach.
Sejong Soloists, founded by renowned Juilliard professor and violin pedagogue Hyo Kang, is named after the 15th century Korean Emperor, Sejong the Great, known for his contribution to the arts. In addition to its on-going projects in New York City, Sejong Soloists holds an annual festival in Seoul called Hic et Nunc!.