Studio Faculty
Jiwon April Hong, DMA
Founder, Violin & Viola Faculty
TL;DR Bachelor and Master from Juilliard. Doctorate from Stony Brook under Emerson String Quartet. Performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Elbphilharmonie. Premiered Roberto Sierra’s Duo Concertante at MoMA (praised by The New York Times). Principal violist at Lucerne Festival Academy, Toronto Summer Music Festival. Faculty at New York Music School, Concordia Conservatory. Students accepted to Juilliard Pre-College, MSM, Mannes Prep. Winners at Camerata, Crescendo, Rondo, and more.
Jiwon April Hong is the founder of Cremona Music Studio and the guiding force behind its teaching philosophy. She is a graduate of The Juilliard School, where she earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees studying under Hyo Kang and I-Hao Lee, and later received her doctorate from Stony Brook University under the mentorship of the Emerson String Quartet, Jennifer Fautschi, and Nicholas Cords.
Her performances have been heard at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Elbphilharmonie, Spectrum, National Sawdust, and the Museum of Modern Art. An active chamber musician and new music performer, she has collaborated with celebrated artists and appeared in premiere performances recognized by The New York Times and New York Classical Review for their clarity and power.
Throughout her development, Jiwon was shaped by musical figures such as Andre Emelianoff, Lewis Kaplan and Joseph Kalichstein. She has worked with conductors including Esa-Pekka Salonen, Alan Gilbert, James DePreist, and Robert Spano, and participated in festivals such as Lucerne, Banff, and Toronto, often as principal violist or featured artist.
But it is through teaching that her deepest work has taken root. Cremona was founded on Jiwon’s belief that excellence must be nurtured with structure, clarity, and care. Her students have gone on to attend Juilliard Pre-College, Manhattan School of Music Pre-College, Mannes Prep, and top university programs. They have held principal roles in orchestras such as the New York Youth Symphony, NYO2, and All-State ensembles, and have won major honors from YoungArts, International Grande, VIVO, ENKOR, and more. These outcomes reflect Cremona’s tradition; mentoring with intention, teaching with depth, and nurturing each student as both musician and individual.
Jiwon now oversees the studio’s programs and development while continuing to teach select violin and viola students. Her leadership remains at the heart of Cremona, where sound is shaped by both skill and purpose.
Violin Faculty
Yoon Be Kim, MM, PSC
TL;DR Debuted internationally at age 13. Soloist with Busan Symphony, Czech Virtuosi, LA Korean Philharmonic. First Prize at NEC Bales, Waterbury Symphony Competitions. Concertmaster: NEC Philharmonia, Yale Philharmonia, MSM Sinfonia Nova. Degrees from NEC, Yale, MSM. Faculty at JCC Thurnauer.
Yoon Be Kim is a violinist whose training, leadership, and artistry reflect the high standards of Cremona. She began violin studies at the age of five in South Korea and gave her international solo debut at thirteen with the Czech Virtuosi Orchestra. At fifteen, she moved to the United States, where she continued her performance career as a soloist with the Busan Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Korean Philharmonic, Kyoto Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, and Waterbury Symphony Orchestra.
She is a first prize recipient of the Los Angeles Korean American Musicians Association Competition, the NEC Bales Violin Competition, and the Waterbury Symphony Concerto Competition. As a chamber musician and orchestral leader, Yoon Be has performed at the New York String Orchestra Seminar, Sarasota Music Festival, Pacific Music Festival, and Aspen Music Festival. She has served as concertmaster for leading ensembles including the Colburn Chamber Orchestra, NEC Philharmonia, NEC Chamber Orchestra, Yale Philharmonia, and MSM Sinfonia Nova.
Her education spans several of the nation’s most respected conservatories. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory, two master's degrees from the Yale School of Music, and a Professional Studies Certificate from the Manhattan School of Music. Her teachers include Frank Huang, Koichiro Harada, Hyo Kang, and Malcolm Lowe.
Hyewon Kim, MM
Cello Faculty
TL;DR Cellist, New Jersey Symphony since 2015. Bachelor and Master from Juilliard. Soloist at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, David Geffen Hall. Recorded with Gil Shaham, Sejong Soloists. Principal cellist, Juilliard Orchestra under Perlman, Gilbert, Villaume. Soloist at age 13 with Busan Philharmonic. Winner ECSO Concerto Competition (Elgar Concerto). Faculty at New York Music School. Students accepted to Juilliard Pre-College, Mannes Prep, New York Youth Symphony. Winners at Rondo, Little Mozarts, Camerata Artists International.
Hyewon Kim is a cellist of exceptional range and depth, and a member of the New Jersey Symphony since the 2015–16 season. Her performances have been featured at Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and the Korea Society, and she has recorded with Gil Shaham and the Sejong Soloists on the 1930s Violin Concertos project, released by Canary Classics.
She has appeared as a soloist with the Busan Philharmonic, Lehman Symphony Orchestra, and Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, where her performance of the Elgar Cello Concerto was described by The Day as “spellbinding” and “mesmerizing.” Additional invitations have included performances with Ars Antiqua de Paris, Korea’s MBC New Year’s Eve Concerts, the Japan-America Institute for New Music, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Young Musicians Concert. As a chamber and orchestral artist, she has collaborated with Frank Huang, Paul Watkins, and members of the Juilliard and Ying Quartets, and performed under the batons of Emmanuel Villaume, Alan Gilbert, Itzhak Perlman, and Jaime Laredo.
Hyewon has studied with Timothy Eddy, Darrett Adkins, and André Emelianoff, earning both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School. She has participated in masterclasses with Anner Bylsma, Frans Helmerson, and Daniel Müller-Schott, and held performing and teaching roles at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, Sarasota Music Festival, Tanglewood Institute, and Arts Ahimsa.
Hyewon Kim is a cellist of exceptional range and depth, and a member of the New Jersey Symphony since the 2015–16 season. Her performances have been featured at Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and the Korea Society, and she has recorded with Gil Shaham and the Sejong Soloists on the 1930s Violin Concertos project, released by Canary Classics.
She has appeared as a soloist with the Busan Philharmonic, Lehman Symphony Orchestra, and Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, where her performance of the Elgar Cello Concerto was described by The Day as “spellbinding” and “mesmerizing.” Additional invitations have included performances with Ars Antiqua de Paris, Korea’s MBC New Year’s Eve Concerts, the Japan-America Institute for New Music, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Young Musicians Concert. As a chamber and orchestral artist, she has collaborated with Frank Huang, Paul Watkins, and members of the Juilliard and Ying Quartets, and performed under the batons of Emmanuel Villaume, Alan Gilbert, Itzhak Perlman, and Jaime Laredo.
Hyewon has studied with Timothy Eddy, Darrett Adkins, and André Emelianoff, earning both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School. She has participated in masterclasses with Anner Bylsma, Frans Helmerson, and Daniel Müller-Schott, and held performing and teaching roles at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, Sarasota Music Festival, Tanglewood Institute, and Arts Ahimsa.
Her students have been accepted into Juilliard Pre-College, Mannes Prep, and the New York Youth Symphony, and have performed as soloists with the Bergen Youth Symphony. Many have earned seats in the Camerata Youth Orchestra, North Jersey Regional Orchestra, and New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra, and have received top prizes at competitions including Rondo Young Artist, Little Mozarts, and Camerata Artists International.
Chieh-I (Candy) Yang, DMA
Viola Faculty
TL;DR Doctor of Musical Arts, Manhattan School of Music. Master and Bachelor from Juilliard under Heidi Castleman, Hsin-Yun Huang, Samuel Rhodes. Principal viola, MSM Orchestra. Assistant principal, Aspen Music Festival Orchestra. Violist, Juilliard Orchestra (2016–2022). Winner, viola position with National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra. Performances at Wiener Musikverein, Taipei Music Academy, Aspen Music Festival. Awards include Helen Cohn Award (MSM), Nelly Walter and C.V. Starr Scholarships (Juilliard), and Rising Star Award from International Pacing Art Culture Education. Doctoral thesis on Lionel Tertis and the English Musical Renaissance.
Chieh-I (Candy) Yang is a musician shaped by movement, curiosity, and a deep belief in the power of music to connect across cultures. She began her musical studies on the violin before discovering her passion for the viola at age fourteen. Within a year, she moved to Vienna to study at the Musikgymnasium, where she performed at the Wiener Musikverein with the school’s symphony orchestra. That early experience—immersed in a city of students from around the world—cemented her conviction that music is both mirror and bridge, revealing something essential in every listener and performer.
Candy has performed extensively with orchestras and festivals around the globe. From 2016 to 2022, she was a regular member of the Juilliard Orchestra. From 2022 to 2025, she performed with the Manhattan School of Music Orchestra, serving as principal viola. She won a national audition for the Taiwan Symphony Orchestra in 2020, performing two concerts per week throughout their season, and held an assistant principal position with the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra as a New Horizon fellow. She has also appeared at the Taipei Music Academy and Festival, among others.
She is a recipient of the Nelly Walter and C.V. Starr Scholarships from The Juilliard School and was honored with the International Pacing Art Culture Education Rising Star Award in 2018. In 2025, she graduated with distinction from the Manhattan School of Music, receiving the Helen Cohn Award for excellence as a doctoral student.
Candy earned her Bachelor of Music degree with academic honors from The Juilliard School, studying with Heidi Castleman, Hsin-Yun Huang, and Matthew Lipman. She completed both her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees under Heidi Castleman and Samuel Rhodes, with her doctoral research focused on Lionel Tertis and the English Musical Renaissance.
Jihyang Jennifer Seo, DMA
Violin Faculty
TL;DR Doctorate from Rutgers. Studied with Emerson String Quartet, Soovin Kim, Philip Setzer. Youngest violinist in Gwacheon Philharmonic. Solo performances of Mozart, Brahms, Sibelius concertos. Concertmaster at Rutgers Symphony. Winner of A. Kunrad Kvam Award. Faculty at NY International Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.
Dr. Jihyang Jennifer Seo began her studies at the age of ten in South Korea under Junsu Jeong and quickly rose to national recognition, becoming the youngest violinist invited to join the Gwacheon Philharmonic Orchestra and winning competitions at Saegaeilbo, Emakchunchu, and Kyung Hee University.
After earning her undergraduate degree from Kyung Hee University, she received a full scholarship to Stony Brook University, where she trained with an esteemed faculty including Soovin Kim, Philip Setzer, Jennifer Frautschi, Arnaud Sussman, and the Emerson String Quartet. She has performed major concertos by Mozart, Brahms, and Sibelius with orchestras in both Korea and the United States, and has appeared at the Seoul International Music Festival and Music Academy of the West, where she studied with Katherine Winkler, Gil Shaham, Glenn Dicterow, Midori Goto, and Cho-Liang Lin.
During her time as concertmaster of the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra, she was mentored by Carmit Zori and awarded the A. Kunrad Kvam Award for outstanding performance on a stringed instrument. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Violin Performance from the Mason Gross School of the Arts in 2022.
Simon Juny Jung, MM
Studio Pianist
TL;DR Solo debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall. Chamber performances at Alice Tully Hall, NPR, WQXR. Staff pianist at Mannes School of Music. Pianist for Dalton Baldwin masterclasses. Degrees from Mannes and Manhattan School of Music. Certificate from Music Academy of the West.
Simon Juny Jung is a pianist known for his sensitivity, clarity, and artistry as a chamber musician and collaborative partner. He made his solo debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and later appeared at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. His performances have been featured internationally, with broadcasts on NPR and WQXR.
A graduate of the Mannes School of Music with a concentration in solo piano, Simon earned his Master of Music in Collaborative Piano from the Manhattan School of Music and completed advanced studies at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. He has served as staff pianist for the Mannes School of Music and has collaborated at festivals including the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival and Hyo Kang’s Summer Music Camp.
Simon has performed in masterclasses led by Dalton Baldwin at the Korea Music Foundation and has worked closely with the Sejong Soloists. At Cremona, his role as collaborative pianist provides students with a musical foundation rooted in precision, responsiveness, and shared expression. His presence reinforces the studio’s belief that music is both personal and collective, and that growth begins when young artists feel supported, challenged, and understood.
Yoona Park
Associate Viola Faculty
TL;DR Juilliard under Heidi Castleman, Hsin-Yun Huang. YoungArts National Winner, NY Virtuoso International Winner. Soloist with Walton, Hindemith, Stamitz, Hoffmeister concertos. Principal viola: NY Youth Symphony (Grammy Award Winner), Aspen Chamber Symphony. Guest artist at New World Symphony.
Yoona Park is a violist currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree at The Juilliard School, where she studies under the mentorship of Heidi Castleman and Hsin-Yun Huang. As a soloist, she has performed concertos by Walton, Hindemith, Stamitz, and Hoffmeister with orchestras across the United States, and has received top honors from competitions including the YoungArts National Competition and the New York Virtuoso International Competition.
An accomplished orchestral musician, Yoona has served as principal violist of the Grammy Award-winning New York Youth Symphony and the Aspen Chamber Symphony at the Aspen Music Festival and School. She has also appeared as a guest artist with the New World Symphony for two consecutive seasons.
As a chamber musician, Yoona collaborates regularly with distinguished artists in both traditional and contemporary settings. At Cremona, she brings a fresh and articulate approach to teaching, offering students the technical foundation and artistic insight to grow confidently in both solo and ensemble performance.