Faculty

  • Hailed by critics for her “most perfect playing” (Internet Cello Society) with “great warmth and beauty” (The STRAD), cellist Bongshin Ko has appeared worldwide as a soloist with such groups as Television and Radio Symphony of Moscow, Munich Chamber Players, the KBS Korean Broadcasting Symphony, Zagreb Philharmonic, and Central Broadcasting Symphony of China to name a few. Professor Ko has collaborated with some of the world’s greatest artists including Mstislav Rostropovich, Bernard Greenhouse, Sir Georg Solti, Leonard Stein, Gunther Schuller, Semyon Bychkov and Valery Gergiev. 

    Ms. Ko has collaborated with some of the world’s greatest artists including Mstislav Rostropovich, Bernard Greenhouse, Sir Georg Solti, Leonard Stein, Gunther Schuller, Semyon Bychkov and Valery Gergiev. She appeared at Seoul International Music Festival to give the Asian premiere of Bernard Rands’ Cello Concerto, dedicated to and world premiered by Mstislav Rostropovich in celebration of his 70th birthday. Other international music events and festivals welcomed her to Schleswig-Holstein festival, Kronberg Cello festival, Hoertnagel Konzertdirekzion, Berlin Wall 10th anniversary concert, Rostropovich & Friends Concert (Germany), American Cello Congresses, Kumho Guest Artist Recital, plus numerous others in France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Luxembourg, Poland, Russia, Monaco, Croatia, USA, Korea, China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.

    She has performed to critical acclaims on NDR and Bayerischer Rundfunk (Germany), Fuji TV (Japan), TV New Zealand, TV China, Korean Broadcasting Systems and NBC. As a member of the European-based Tritton Cello Quartet she can be heard on the Musica Columna label. Her live performances of Brahms and Barber sonatas are often broadcast on the Arte TV in Korea and over the transpacific in-flight classical station on Asiana Airlines. Ms. Ko’s Haydn and Saint-Saens concerti, recorded with Munich Chamber Players in Germany, can also be heard on the SONY Classical label.

    As a recipient of over 30 international prizes and awards, including the highest performance award in her native Korea and the Crossroad Award in the US for her “superior teaching,” she is on popular demand as a teacher as well as a performer around the globe. Prestigious schools where she taught special guest master classes include The Juilliard School, Mannheim Musikhochschule, Korean National University of Arts, Nürnberg School for Music, and Bejing Central Conservatory.

  • Andrew Shulman is a world-renowned English cellist, conductor, and composer whose extraordinary talent and versatility have left an indelible mark on the global music scene. Born in London in 1960, he displayed an early aptitude for the cello, studying with luminaries such as Amaryllis Fleming, Joan Dickson, Jacqueline du Pré, and William Pleeth at the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music. His prodigious skill was recognized at just 22 when Riccardo Muti appointed him principal cellist of the prestigious Philharmonia Orchestra, launching a distinguished career spanning continents and musical genres.

    Shulman has held principal positions with some of the world’s most esteemed ensembles, including the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Since 2008, he has served as principal cellist of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), where his performances have been described by the Los Angeles Times as “always eloquent and passionate.” In 1989, he became the first British cellist to win the prestigious Piatigorsky Artist Award, and his contributions to music were further honored when he was made an Honorary Member of the Royal College of Music by HRH The Queen Mother.

    As a soloist, Shulman has performed major cello concertos with leading orchestras worldwide, including the Philharmonia, City of Birmingham Symphony, Utah Symphony, BBC Scottish, Gothenburg Symphony and Singapore Symphony, collaborating with conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Giuseppe Sinopoli. He has given recitals at iconic venues such as Wigmore Hall, Buckingham Palace, the Royal Palace in Stockholm, the Vienna Musikverein and the Hollywood Bowl, where his performances have been noted for their “fastidious poetry of phrase and technique” (The Times). His extensive discography includes over 35 recordings, among them 26 albums with the Britten Quartet for EMI, solo works by Vivaldi and Janáček, and world-premiere performances and recordings of solo works by Frederick Delius, Bruce Broughton, James Newton Howard and Maria Newman.

    Shulman’s versatility extends beyond classical music. As a sought-after solo cellist in film and television, he has contributed to thousands of scores. He has also collaborated with artists outside the classical realm, notably working with George Martin and three of the

    Beatles, arranging and performing on albums by the post-punk band Louis XIV and recording the iconic cello solo in Elton John’s Candle in the Wind 1997. As a composer, he has premiered his own works, such as Smaller Music for Strings, and won accolades for his electric cello rock instrumental H.A.N.D., a winner in the 2007 International Songwriting Competition.

    As a conductor, Shulman has led orchestras across Europe and the U.S., including the Britten-Pears Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the Culver City Symphony Orchestra, where he served as Principal Guest Conductor. His conducting highlights include the world premiere of a previously unpublished work by Benjamin Britten and acclaimed performances of Mozart operas such as Le nozze di Figaro and Così fan tutte. Critics and audiences alike have praised his ability to draw nuanced and impassioned performances from orchestras, a testament to his deep musical insight.

    A dedicated educator, Shulman is a professor at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, where his students have gone on to win international competitions and secure principal positions in major orchestras. His multifaceted career—spanning solo performances, chamber music, conducting, composing, and pedagogy—reflects a restless creativity and an unwavering commitment to musical excellence. Whether performing Strauss’s Don Quixote with Esa-Pekka Salonen at the Hollywood Bowl or collaborating with rock guitarist Uli Jon Roth in Hollywood, Andrew Shulman remains a dynamic and influential force in the world of music.

  • Description texKorean-born cellist Jenny Hyunseung Oh is a performer and educator based in Southern California. She appears regularly as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, while maintaining an active performing presence in both the United States and Korea.

    Jenny has appeared as a soloist with the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra in Korea and the North Hungarian Symphony Orchestra in Hungary. She also previously served as a member of the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra. Her performances are noted for their expressive depth and musical sensitivity.

    As an active chamber musician, Jenny has performed in concerts and festivals across the United States, Korea, Germany, and France, collaborating with a wide range of musicians.

    Jenny received her Bachelor of Music from Seoul National University, a Master of Music from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where she studied with renowned cellist Stephen Kates, and a Graduate Certificate in Music Performance from the University of Southern California, studying with legendary cellist Ronald Leonard.

    In addition to her performing career, Jenny is a dedicated educator. She has served on the faculty of Kwang-ju University in Korea and as an adjunct professor at Concordia University in California. She has also been invited to teach and coach at programs including the Bakersfield International Music Festival, Concordia University Summer Chamber Music Camp, and Junior Chamber Music of Orange County.

    She maintains an active private studio in Southern California and continues to perform regularly in chamber music collaborations with various ensembles, including Charis Christian Chamber and W Trio, an ensemble of USC alumni.t goes here

  • In 1986 Yi-Bing Chu was prize winner at the 42nd Concours International d’Exécution Musicale in Geneva, after graduating with a Premier Prix from Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Dance de Paris where he studied under the tutelage of Maurice Gendron. He was the first Chinese cellist ever to win a prize in a major international Cello competition. He served as principal cellist in Basel Symphony Orchestra, Switzerland between 1989-2004, Yi-Bing Chu was also guest principal cellist of Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in Munich and member of Cologne Philharmonic Cellists, in Germany.

    Yi-Bing Chu was visiting professor at Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Dance de Paris. He is the first professor of chinese nationality since the establishment of this famous institution in 1795.

    Yi-Bing Chu was appointed as cello professor and head of the cello department at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where he taught between 2004 and 2018.

    He founded the Chu Yi-Bing Cello Ensemble with his students, the first Cello Ensemble in China. Yi-Bing Chu founded the SuperCello festival in Beijing, the first cello festival in China and the biggest of this kind in Asia.

    Since March 2020 Yi-Bing Chu lives in Los Angeles. He has always been active on the international stage as a cellist, His students have been successfully admitted to major music academies around the world, such as Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Dance de Paris, New England Conservatory, Yale University, The Juilliard School, Hochschule fuer Musik und Theater Muenchen. More former students work in symphony orchestras and taught at music conservatories.


Distinguished Guest Artists

CelloFest 2023 -2025

Wendy Warner

Seth Parker Woods

Ronald Leonard

Daniel Rothmuller

Alexander Suleiman

Yue Tang

  • Description Eddie Yue earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with the honor of Summa Cum Laude. While pursuing his Master of Music degree at Cal State University Fullerton, he performed as the university's principal cellist for the American premiere of Tarik O' Regan's "The Ecstasies Above" at Carnegie Hall in November 2015. He played in a masterclass for legendary cellists including Misha Maisky, Alexander Rudin, and the late Bernard Greenhouse. While studying under and working with cellist Bongshin Ko, Mr. Yue toured intensively around the world to Italy, Germany, France, and South Korea. 

  • Distinguished cellist and educator Chiawen Tsai’s musical journey started at nine years old, when she started studying cello with teacher Yi Tsai. Since then, she has earned a Master of Arts from National Sun Yat-Sen University Music Department, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Department from National Taiwan Normal University. Throughout her distinguished academic career, she studied under the tutelage of prominent mentors, including professor Yi Tsai, Che-Min Chen, Shih-Chieh Wu, Hsiu-San Lin, and Min-Yuan Lin. A passionate cellist and teacher, Ms. Tsai had an impressive upbringing and early career in Taiwan, teaching students and performing. In Taiwan, she served as a faculty member of the music program at National Nantou Senior High School, Taichung Municipal Shuang-Shih Junior High School, Guang-Fu Elementary School, various international schools, and the Lin Wen-Yen String Orchestra. A versatile musician, she was a member of the NSYSU Baroque Chamber Orchestra and the Taichung Ming-Chia Cello Ensemble. She enjoys sharing her music globally on prestigious stages worldwide, including the National Concert Hall and various regional Cultural Centers in Taiwan; Jilin University, Peking University, and Sun Yat-sen University in China.

    Ms. Tsai is an active member of several musical professional organizations, including:

    • MTAC: Music Teachers' Association of California

    • SAA: Suzuki Association of the Americas

    • ASTA: American String Teachers Association

    • JCM: Junior Chamber Music

    • SYMF: Southwestern Youth Music Festival

  • Kevin Mills, a native of Southern California, holds an Artist’s Diploma from Oberlin Conservatory, a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, and a Bachelor of Music degree from California State University of Fullerton. Mills has been working in the world of classical music in all facets. He is thrilled to serve as Assistant Principal Cellist of Las Vegas Philharmonic, Principal of the Rogue Valley Symphony, and as a frequent substitute cellist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Frequent recording studio appearances have allowed him to work at prestigious studios such as Capitol Records and Sony Pictures. An avid chamber music player, Mills travels often across the country as well as overseas to perform with organizations such as The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York, The Greenhouse Foundation’s Viva Celli Festival in Seoul, Korea, and numerous music festivals in Germany, France, and Luxembourg. He is most fortunate to have been gifted a coveted instrument, a 1779 Renault & Chatelain, from his former cello teacher.

  • A southern California native, B. Michael Phillips enjoys his diverse career of performing, recording, and teaching. He has performed with numerous professional orchestras, chamber ensembles, theatrical productions, as well as various alternative-style music groups. As a graduate of Cal State University Fullerton where he earned his Master of Music degree, Phillips has played in a masterclass of world-acclaimed cellists including Johannes Moser and Petr Prause. Mr. Phillips is the founder and curator of the Gingham Concert Series, a project that aims to provide the local community with free, family-friendly concerts, with the mission of promoting the appreciation and preservation of classical music. 

Festival Staff

  • Benjamin Her is a performing cellist based in Southern California, currently studying under Bongshin Ko. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from the California State University, Fullerton. Upon receiving the Dr. Harry Norman and Family Foundation Scholarship and Cello Performance Award, Mr. Her continues as a recipient of the Master of Music degree in Cello Performance at university. He has performed alongside the University Symphony as principal cellist and presented large symphony works performing a wide range of repertoire. Through numerous orchestral experiences, Mr. Her has performed in some of the most prestigious concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, Segerstrom Concert Hall, and the Cerritos Performing Arts Center. He additionally performed in section cello positions with orchestras such as the Whittier Regional Symphony, Orchestra Collective of Orange County, and Long Beach Summer Orchestra. As a frequent performer, Mr. Her has presented solo recitals and engaged in chamber performances while traveling internationally in South Korea and Germany. He has also performed alongside distinguished artists notably with Tsutsumi Tsuyoshi, Michal Kanka, Jan Ickert, Talich String Quartet, and Rob Kapilow (conductor). He is currently faculty member of the New California Conservatory and Moonlight Music Academy where his students are granted top recognition in music competitions and recitals.

  • Native to Southern California, Edward Montalvo is an active cellist as both performing musician and pedagogue. He has appeared in distinguished venues like Carnegie Hall, Kauffman Music Center, and Cerritos Performing Arts Center, while touring with the CSUF Symphonic Orchestra and Cello Choir. His musical pursuits lead him to perform throughout multiple continents in countries such as South Korea and Germany with the CSUF Cello Choir, holding lead section parts in the concert repertoire. Additionally, Edward has performed both solo and chamber ensemble concerts, collaborating with groups such as the Talich Quartet and Mariachi Titans.

    Edward is an active educator working as an orchestra instructor, conducting cello technique workshops and group lessons for students ranging from TK-8 to High School. He holds dual degree studies with a Bachelors of Arts in Music Education and Business Administration from the California State University, Fullerton, where he also studied under cellist Bongshin Ko. By combining his studies in music and business, Edward aims to build a career that bridges performance, education, and arts leadership, with a focus on expanding access to meaningful musical experiences.