Biography
Korean-New Zealander violinist Julie Park holds a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland and is currently studying for a Master of Arts in Viola Performance at the Royal Academy of Music with Martin Outram. She is supported by the prestigious ABRSM International Postgraduate Scholarship, the Associated Board of the RSM Scholarship and the Rainer and Doreen Burchett Charitable Foundation Award which provides for full tuition and maintenance. She is also an artist with the Talent Unlimited Foundation.
As a soloist, Julie was the recipient of the 2014 ‘First in course’ prize for solo performance at the University of Auckland. She was accepted into the 2014 Carl Flesch Akademie International Master Class to receive lessons from Professor Hartmut Rohde and was nominated to perform the J.C Bach Viola Concerto with the Baden Baden Philharmonia Orchestra. Additionally, she received the ‘Ruth-Flesch-Gedachtnispreis’ award/ scholarship selected by the conductor and judges.
As the grand winner of the 2016 Viva La Viola competition and the APO’s Young Soloist of the year, she performed as a concerto soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra at the Auckland Town Hall. In 2017, she was selected as one of the three finalists to compete in the 2017 University of Auckland Graduation Gala Concerto Competition; being the first ever violinist to be placed in the competition. She performed with the University of Auckland Symphony Orchestra and was awarded 2nd place in conjunction with the Graduation Gala Development Prize.
In August 2018, Julie attended the competitive Curtis Young Artist Summer Program under a substantial scholarship and gained 2nd place in the Curtis Young Artist Summer Program Concerto Competition. She was also chosen to appear and perform on the WRTI Radio Station in Philadelphia during the summer festival.
She has performed and been praised by numerous renowned artists such as 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 a chamber musician, Julie won the Auckland Chamber Music Society Prize Competition 2 years in a row, along with gaining 2nd place in the 2016 SALUT International Performing Arts Competition. Her string trio; Mazzoli Trio was the recipient of the 2016 Carl and Alberta Rosenfeldt Prize in Chamber Music and the official Ensemble in Residence of the 2017 International Akaroa Music.
In early 2018, Mazzoli Trio was selected to tour and give concerts all around New Zealand as part of the Chamber Music New Zealand Encompass Tour. Furthermore in 2020, they will be releasing a world premiere CD album consisting of Missy Mazzoli’s string quartets and trio works.
In 2017-2018, Julie was invited to a fully funded piano quintet tour to the UK and Spain collaborating with Clio Gould, as part of the Pettman Ensemble. The Thoroughly Good Blog of Classical Music reviewed a Pettman Ensemble performance at the St John’s Smith Square and called it “A ravishing treat”, also adding that the “Schumann’s Piano Quintet was a glorious ebullient affair throughout”. The Ensemble was featured on the BBC website and in Radio 3’s In Tune Series.
As an orchestral musician, Julie has performed as principal viola of the Auckland Youth Orchestra, Pettman Chamber Orchestra, University of Auckland Symphony Orchestra, University of Auckland Chamber Orchestra, Curtis Young Artist Symphony Orchestra, Royal Academy Symphony Orchestra, Royal Academy Chamber Orchestra and the NZSO National Youth Orchestra as a recipient of the Norbert Heuser Viola Award. Currently she holds a casual member position in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
Julie was a fellow of the 2016 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Fellowship Programme and the winner of the inaugural Michael Monaghan Award from the NZSO Alex Lindsay Award Trust. She was also chosen both as an APO Intern and the APO Young Soloist in 2016.
Most recently, Julie completed the competitive London Symphony Orchestra String Scheme 2018/2019 where she performed under conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle and Bernard Haitink. In September 2019, she 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, Conrad Pope, Jac Van Steen, Brett Mitchell, James MacMillan, Bertrand de Billy, Gemma New, Tung-Chieh Chuang, and Mark Russell Smith.
