Joshua Choi, violist

Minnesota native, Joshua Choi is a freelance violist in the San Franicsco Bay. Choi is a current Master’s student at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with Dimitri Murrath. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Viola Performance from the University of Northwestern, St. Paul where he studied with Violin Pedagogue, Dr. Stephanie Allen and privately with former Minnesota Orchestra Co-Principal, Richard Marshall. 

Choi was an active performer in Minneapolis, and performed in a wide variety of settings. He performed with all the major community/civic orchestras in the Twin-Cities, whether it was subbing or in as a more permanent resident with the orchestra. 

An active recitalist, Choi holds multiple recitals year-round, performing both standards in the classical music repertoire, but also working hard to bring newly written pieces and pieces written by BIPOC/LGBTQ+ composers as well. In 2021, he worked with Korean composer, Young-Shin Choi, to give the U.S. premiere of his piece About purple falling star, a piece that had been lost to the public ear since the year 2000. 

He is also an active chamber musician, Choi has performed many standards in the chamber music realm with both student groups and professional ensembles. Most recently, he worked extensively with the Rolston String Quartet at String Insiders’ In-Person String Intensive to give performances in non-traditional spaces in Dallas, TX in the spring of 2022.  

With an extensive teaching background, Choi really enjoys adapting to each student or class to bring out the best in each player as well as help them find their own individual, unique voice as an artist. He teaches viola and violin, and has served as a faculty member at multiple summer camps, offering technique classes, sectional time, chamber music coaching, and private lessons. Choi currently holds an enthusiastic private studio outside of his studies, creating a safe environment where each student can grow to their fullest potential and reach their happiest aspirations, whether that is to play professionally, or simply enjoy it as a hobby. 

While in the Twin-Cities, Choi was the Violin Shop Manager of the Paul A. Schmitt Violin Shop of Schmitt Music, a smaller and up-and-coming violin shop serving the Midwest. Four years of sales experience lead to a fine sense to serve customers, listen and diagnose certain nuances in playing, and help customers find everything from their first instrument, to their dream instrument. This has also equipped him with an ability to hear nuances in his students as well, helping provide the most comfortable playing experience for his students and colleagues. 

During his free-time, Choi enjoys seeing friends, playing card games, reading books, and researching for new pieces that could be brought to life.