Pianist Joanne Kong’s performances have been praised for “great finesse and flexibility” (The Washington Post), “superb” playing (The Boston Globe), “utmost keyboard sensitivity and variety of tone” (Richmond Times-Dispatch), and “superb artistry” (San Antonio Express-News) for works “sensitively played” (The New York Times). 

Kong has performed to critical acclaim at numerous venues including the Los Angeles and Oregon Bach Festivals, Memphis Chamber Music Society, San Antonio Festival, Los Angeles Monday Evening Concert Series, Virginia Waterfront International Festival of the Arts, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, National Gallery of Art Concert Series in Washington, D. C., Strathmore Hall’s “Music in the Mansion” series, Columbia University, Harvard University, the Conservatorio Dall’Abaco in Verona, Italy, the Melk Abbey Summer Concert Series, Baden’s Haus der Kunst in Austria, and the International Festival of Orchestras and Youth in Cartagena, Colombia.  She was the Grand Prize Winner in the 1985 International Piano Recording Competition for her performance of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations, was a Laureate in the 1983 National Beethoven Foundation Fellowship Auditions, and premiered Side by Side, the first concerto to feature a soloist in a dual role as pianist and harpsichordist.  Written by Pulitzer Prize – winning composer Michael Colgrass, the unique work was co-commissioned by the Richmond Symphony, Boston Modern Orchestra, and Esprit Orchestra. Kong performed with the University of Richmond’s Dr. Mike Davison and President Ronald Crutcher on a 2017 concert tour of Cuba, in 2015 she travelled to Brazil for a 10-day concert and teaching tour under the auspices of the Partners of the Americas and the U. S. State Department, and she toured India as a guest lecturer and pianist during the Summer of 2018.  A gifted collaborator, she has performed with numerous artists including the Shanghai String Quartet, Eugenia Zukerman, cellist James Wilson, violinist Karen Johnson, and 4-time Grammy Award – winning ensemble Eighth Blackbird. Dr. Kong is in frequent demand as a chamber, instrumental and vocal coach, including guest teaching at the Colburn School, Yale University, New England Conservatory, New York University and the Global Summer Institute of Music, and is currently the director of the accompanying and chamber music programs at the University of Richmond.  She will be one of four collaborative pianists in the 2021 Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists.

Website:  www.joannekongmusic.com