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Meet

John Choi


John Choi has played the violin since the age of 3, and he comes from a family of violin players. Particularly his father was a well known violin instructor in music schools of Korea, and he taught him the violin. John's deepest life long aspiration in music was in the Mendelssohn, and the Brahms violin concertos. Unfortunately do to the difficulty in the Brahms violin concerto he had to study the violin far more extensively than his peers. It was that old sound of RCA records with Heifetz and Oistrakh playing the Brahms that attracted him to the violin. To help him get there he needed a lot of support for many years from many people. His teachers include but are not limited to some well known violinists in Chicago such as Rebekah Yoon, Carol Lahti, and Sylvia Myintoo. John has a very in depth gratitude to his teachers and his father for helping him to get to where he is.


John's two biggest studies in the violin that he has to offer to his students are specifically in the bowing, and being able to play the violin by hearing. With these 2 specific techniques his desire is to cut to the chase and have violin students be able to play the violin assertively and with confidence. He feels that violin students are often too sensitive and are constantly improving yet never quite getting there. What he wants is to impart his skills into his students to break through their barriers and be able to play the difficult and challenging pieces that they've always wanted to play.


His philosophy is that "if you really love music you are already gifted and if you really want to play then you are already half way there". He believes that having a proper belief about one's self is the key and what he wants to do is to unleash that potential from his students.


Violin Studies

• Classically trained in the violin since the age of 3, and studied violin concertos by the following composers Mendelssohn, Tschaikowsky, Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms
  
• Studied under
  
  *** Carol Lahti Concert Mistress of Chicago Sinfonietta,
  *** Sylvia Myintoo substitute member of Chicago Symphony Orchestra,
  *** Rebecca Yoon En Gedi Ensemble leader and Former Professor of American Conservatory of Music

Performances

• Made numerous performances from various churches to concert halls playing mostly classical music of both solo to ensemble music
  
• Some solo pieces include but limited to:
  *** Beethoven's Violin Concerto
  *** Brahm's Violin Concerto
  *** Tschaikowsky's Violin Concerto
  *** Bach Partita #2
  

Chicago Stringed Instruments (Office Manager) 1986 - 2006

• Taught violin lessons as early as 1987 to students in various ages from beginning to advance level
  
• Served in an executive position between two or more violin companies around the world in carrying out intense/critical business at an executive level
  
• Coordinated and oversaw management on instrument repair services with other instrument specialists and customers
  
• Worked as a consultant for many violin investors/owners who wanted a further guidance in their instrument investment that have ranged up to $100,000.00
  
• Conducted instrument sales/purchase negotiation and have closed deals
  

Professional Activities

• SPS (Society of Physics Students) Active Member, Resource for Science Fair Central 2003
  

Education

• B.S. Physics, Cum Laude Northeastern IL. University