Its members are dedicated to nurturing, inspiring, and guiding young musicians to develop the skills necessary to achieve the goal of a career as a vibrant, expressive, and versatile performing artist on the highest level. They are chamber artists, soloists, orchestral principals, and recording artists, and their commitment to excellence honors the great instrumental performing and teaching traditions of the past while helping their students to develop a core musicianship and technical mastery which also prepares them for the diverse array of styles and demands found in the music of today and into the future.
Under faculty guidance, Peabody students have won major competitions and positions in prestigious orchestras and ensembles throughout the world. Currently, Peabody graduates hold positions, including several principal and co-principal chairs, in the New York Philharmonic, National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Houston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, and Los Angeles Philharmonic among others. Top honors in competitions include the Tchaikovsky Competition, Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, Jacques Thibaud in Paris, Paganini in Genoa, Montreal International, and Washington International.
The distinguished Strings faculty artists of the Peabody Conservatory have won prizes in some of the most renowned international music competitions, including the Tchaikovsky in Moscow and the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium. They have performed as soloists and chamber musicians to critical acclaim, adjudicated international competitions, been recorded on major labels, and have held principal chairs with prominent symphony orchestras. In addition to providing outstanding musical instruction, members of the Peabody Strings faculty endeavor to provide a cohesive and comprehensive support mechanism for students. The ultimate goal of each teacher is to successfully prepare future graduates for the realities and challenges of the music profession.
Choong-Jin (CJ) Chang was appointed to the Peabody Conservatory viola faculty effective September 2013. A native of Seoul, Korea, Mr. Chang was appointed principal viola of the Philadelphia Orchestra in April 2006 after 12 years as associate principal viola.
Victoria Chiang has performed as soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician across North America, Europe and Asia. Her most recent recording of the viola concertos of Stamitz and Hoffmeister was released by Naxos to critical acclaim.
Nina DeCesare joined the bass section of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in September 2020 after playing five years with the Oregon Symphony bass section. She has also performed with The Cleveland Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony, the Seattle Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, the Sun Valley Music Festival, the Knights Orchestra, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, and the Oregon Bach Festival.
Vadim Gluzman’s extraordinary artistry brings to life the glorious violinistic tradition of the 19th and 20th centuries. Gluzman’s wide repertoire embraces new music and his performances are heard around the world.
Ira Gold made his Carnegie Hall solo debut in 2011, performing the Vanhal Bass Concerto with the Catholic University of America Symphony Orchestra. Prior to joining the National Symphony in 2005, Gold performed with several American orchestras.
Herbert Greenberg, a native of Philadelphia, studied with Jascha Brodsky and Ivan Galamian, and his further studies at Indiana University with the great pedagogue Josef Gingold led to a Performer's Certificate. Greenberg served as concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra from 1981 to 2001.
Violinist Judith Ingolfsson is recognized for her intense, commanding performances, uncompromising musical maturity, and charismatic performance style. Now based in Berlin and enjoying a global career, she performs regularly as soloist, chamber musician, and in recital as the Duo Ingolfsson-Stoupel.
Astonishing in her musical versatility, violinist Qing Li brings great warmth, poise and insight to her music making. Li is the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Second Violin, appointed by Yuri Temirkanov in 2000 upon winning the audition, and is frequently featured as a soloist.
Praised by The Strad magazine and The New York Times, internationally renowned cellist Amit Peled is acclaimed as one of the most exciting and virtuosic instrumentalists on the concert stage today.
Soloist, principal cellist, chamber musician, recording artist, and distinguished teacher, Alan Stepansky is known internationally as a musician whose multi-faceted career exemplifies the highest ideals of artistry, versatility, and devotion to teaching and mentoring the next generation of gifted young cellists.
A native of Taiwan, Keng-Yuen Tseng began studying the violin at the age of 5 and made his performing debut at the age of 7. Upon his arrival in the United States in 1980, Tseng was awarded a full scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Erick Friedman.