Sarita Kwok
Sarita Kwok has distinguished herself as one of the most captivating and sophisticated performers to emerge from the ranks of Australia’s classical musicians. Described by the New York Times as a “fine young violinist,” she has enthralled audiences since she was named Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year (Strings) in 1998.
Her cosmopolitan musical career has included performances as a solo artist, recitalist, and chamber musician throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, and as a featured soloist with the major orchestras of her native Australia. She is a prize-winner of the Kloster Schöntal, Gisborne, and Lipinski/Wieniawski international competitions.
Sarita received critical acclaim for her recording of Ezra Laderman’s last three string quartets for Albany records. Her recent recording of Martin Bresnick’s Josephine (the Singer) for solo violin was described by Gramophone as “gorgeously executed.” In a 2015 collaboration with pianist Wei-Yi Yang, the album Interchange was released on the German label Genuin.
The album presented a collection of 20th century violin and piano sonatas and was described by Deutschlandfunk as "electrifying."
A committed chamber musician, Sarita has appeared in performances at Zankel and Weill Recital Halls at Carnegie Hall, Sapporo’s Kitara Hall (Japan), Villa Medici (Italy), Théâtre du Jeu de Paume and Salle Olivier Messiaen (France), Melbourne Concert Hall (Australia), and has been featured at the Aldeburgh, Pacific, Aix-en-Provence, Norfolk and Rockport music festivals, among others.
Kwok’s passion for performing is matched only by her commitment to education, where her analytic yet sensitive approach has made her a highly sought-after teacher. As the former director of the undergraduate lessons program at Yale University, and a Yale faculty member of 8 years, Sarita is now Professor of Music and chair of the Department of Music at Gordon College, in Massachusetts. Additionally, she is the inaugural holder of the Adams Endowed Chair in Music at Gordon College. Kwok has given master classes at Wellesley and Amherst colleges and at the New Zealand School of Music, among others.
Sarita received her Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Yale School of Music, where she studied with Syoko Aki and the Tokyo String Quartet.
Kwok performs on a violin from 1736 by Italian maker Johannes Florenus Guidantus.
Her cosmopolitan musical career has included performances as a solo artist, recitalist, and chamber musician throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, and as a featured soloist with the major orchestras of her native Australia. She is a prize-winner of the Kloster Schöntal, Gisborne, and Lipinski/Wieniawski international competitions.
Sarita received critical acclaim for her recording of Ezra Laderman’s last three string quartets for Albany records. Her recent recording of Martin Bresnick’s Josephine (the Singer) for solo violin was described by Gramophone as “gorgeously executed.” In a 2015 collaboration with pianist Wei-Yi Yang, the album Interchange was released on the German label Genuin.
The album presented a collection of 20th century violin and piano sonatas and was described by Deutschlandfunk as "electrifying."
A committed chamber musician, Sarita has appeared in performances at Zankel and Weill Recital Halls at Carnegie Hall, Sapporo’s Kitara Hall (Japan), Villa Medici (Italy), Théâtre du Jeu de Paume and Salle Olivier Messiaen (France), Melbourne Concert Hall (Australia), and has been featured at the Aldeburgh, Pacific, Aix-en-Provence, Norfolk and Rockport music festivals, among others.
Kwok’s passion for performing is matched only by her commitment to education, where her analytic yet sensitive approach has made her a highly sought-after teacher. As the former director of the undergraduate lessons program at Yale University, and a Yale faculty member of 8 years, Sarita is now Professor of Music and chair of the Department of Music at Gordon College, in Massachusetts. Additionally, she is the inaugural holder of the Adams Endowed Chair in Music at Gordon College. Kwok has given master classes at Wellesley and Amherst colleges and at the New Zealand School of Music, among others.
Sarita received her Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Yale School of Music, where she studied with Syoko Aki and the Tokyo String Quartet.
Kwok performs on a violin from 1736 by Italian maker Johannes Florenus Guidantus.