Jordan Bak, viola 

Biography

“A star in the making,” (Seattle Pi) Jamaican-American violist Jordan Bak is establishing a career as an artist of passion, energy, and authenticity in the recital, orchestral and chamber music arenas. Considered one of the most outstanding musicians of his generation, he is a top prizewinner of the 2019 Vienna International Music Competition, the winner of the 2018 Special Prize from Switzerland’s Verbier Festival Academy and the 2017 Juilliard Concerto Competition, as well as a Sphinx Competition alum and Sphinx MPower Artist Grant Recipient. A strong advocate of both contemporary 21st century music and music of the Baroque era, Bak’s repertoire ranges from Jean-Philippe Rameau to Joan Tower and other composers of today. In addition to his growing solo career, Bak is a member of the celebrated New York Classical Players and frequent guest artist with the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players.

Highlights of the 2018-2019 season include showcase recitals at WQXR The Greene Space, The Juilliard School’s Paul Hall, and the Meredith Willson Theater in New York, performances with The Crossing and Frisson Ensemble, and new music collaborative projects with composers Eli Greenhoe, Caroline Shaw, and Delong Wang. Jordan Bak will also be appearing at the Kallos Chamber Music Series in Connecticut, the Mellon Music Festival in California and at the legendary Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont. Recent performance highlights include an acclaimed performance of the Druckman Viola Concerto with The Juilliard Orchestra at Alice Tully Hall in New York. Bak has also been heard as a recitalist and chamber musician in the United States at such venues as Jordan Hall, Lyric Hall, Dairy Arts Centre, and Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, among others, and in Europe at the Verbier Festival, the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, and the Centre de Musique Hindemith.

Only the third Artist Diploma violist in the history of The Juilliard School, Jordan Bak holds degrees from both The Juilliard School and New England Conservatory. In addition to his performing schedule, he has been invited to serve as Viola Artist Faculty for the Classical Music Institute of San Antonio, and as Guest Artist Speaker for the Children’s Orchestra Society in Long Island. Bak is on the faculty of Opportunity Music Project in New York City and The Malverne School of Music in Malverne, NY, and serves as teaching assistant for The Juilliard School ACHT Viola Studio.