Julie Park
Associate Principal
Viola
Korean-New Zealander violist Julie Park holds a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland and a Master of Arts with Distinction from the Royal Academy of Music. She was supported by the ABRSM International Postgraduate Scholarship- providing for full tuition and maintenance and was awarded a DipRAM for gaining full marks in her end of year master’s recital. She is the first violist to graduate with an Advanced Diploma from the Royal Academy of Music, and as one of the prestigious Bicentenary Scholars (full scholarship) she will soon be releasing her debut solo album with Linn Records. She is also an artist with the Talent Unlimited Foundation.
As a concerto soloist, Julie has performed with the Baden Philharmonia Orchestra, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, the UOA Symphony Orchestra, the Sainsbury Royal Academy Soloists- directed by acclaimed violinist, Clio Gould, and the Royal Academy of Music String Orchestra. In June 2021, she performed the world premiere of Britten’s Double Violin and Viola Concerto arranged for String Orchestra with eminent conductor John Wilson and violinist Charlie Lovell-Jones.
She is the grand winner of the prestigious 2021 Bicentenary Prize Competition held at Wigmore Hall, and the 2020 Sir Karl Jenkins Classical Music Competition- both as the first violist to do so. She also won 2nd place in the 2020 International Anton Rubinstein Viola Competition, ROSL 68th Annual Music Competition- Len Lickorish Memorial Prize for a String Player of Promise, Curtis Young Artist Summer Program Concerto Competition, and the 2017 UOA’s Graduation Gala Concerto Competition in conjunction with the Graduation Gala Development Prize. In 2020, she was accepted into the IMS Prussia Cove, Yellow Barn Festival, as well as being nominated by the Principal to attend the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo as a Royal Academy representative.
She has been praised by renowned artists such as Kim Kashkashian, Roberto Diaz, Toby Appel, Hartmut Rohde, Nicola Benedetti, Anthony Marwood, Richard O’Neill, David Takeno, Garth Knox, Ivo-Jan van der Werff, Peter Slowik, Thomas Selditz and Robert McDuffie.
As an orchestral musician, Julie has performed principal violist of the Auckland Youth Orchestra, Pettman Chamber Orchestra, University of Auckland Symphony Orchestra, NZSO National Youth Orchestra, Curtis Young Artist Symphony Orchestra, Royal Academy Symphony Orchestra, Royal Academy Chamber Orchestra, and the Royal Academy Sainsbury Soloists.
Julie completed the competitive London Symphony Orchestra String Scheme 2018/2019 where she performed under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle and Bernard Haitink. In 2019, she was invited to record with the LSO in the Angel Recording Studio as well as perform in their lunchtime series concert collaborating with members of the LSO.
She has played under numerous renowned conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Bernard Haitink, Edo De Waart, Semyon Bychkov, Richard Gill, John Wilson, Conrad Pope, Jac Van Steen, Brett Mitchell, James MacMillan, Bertrand de Billy, Gemma New, Tung-Chieh Chuang, and Mark Russell Smith.