A native of Seoul, Korea, Choong-Jin (C.J.) Chang has been principal viola of The Philadelphia Orchestra in 2006, having joined the ensemble in 1994 as associate principal. He made his performance debut at age 12 with the Seoul Philharmonic. In 1981, at age 13, he moved to the United States to attend the Juilliard School of Music. He later studied at Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music, earning degrees in both violin and viola under the tutelage of Jascha Brodsky and former Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Viola Joseph dePasquale.
Mr. Chang made his solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall in 2007 and has since performed in numerous recitals across the United States and South Korea. In 2008 he was a featured soloist with The Philadelphia Orchestra during its Asian Tour, performing in Seoul and Shanghai, and at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. He made his subscription solo debut with the Orchestra in 2009 and has been a frequent soloist, including a notable performance of Bruch’s Concerto for Clarinet and Viola in 2022. In 2013 he curated the Bach and Hindemith Project, performing all 19 pieces by both composers in four recitals at the Kuhmo Arts Hall in Seoul. As a chamber musician, he collaborates with renowned artists at prestigious festivals worldwide.
Mr. Chang was one of the founding members of the Johannes String Quartet, which debuted to critical acclaim at Philadelphia’s Ethical Society and Carnegie Hall. Since 1997 the Quartet has performed extensively over two decades across the United States, premiering works such as Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Homunculus and William Bolcom’s Double Quartet with the Guarneri Quartet.
In addition to his performing career, Mr. Chang is a respected educator in both violin and viola. His former students include members of The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra, as well as winners of major competitions. He currently serves as a viola professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Conservatory of Music and is an artist/faculty member at the Aspen Music Festival and School during the summer.