In-person lessons
One-to-one lessons in the Fort Worth area, built around your ear, your hands, and your goals.
- Weekly one-to-one lessons
- Technique, repertoire & musicianship
- Guidance for practice between lessons
I · Prélude
a site in six movements, after Bach's Suite No. 3 in C major
Jenny Kwak
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra·Chamber musician·Teacher
Cellist of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra — from Gwangju, South Korea, by way of TCU, Yale, and Stony Brook, with performances from Carnegie Hall to Suntory Hall.
II · Allemande
About Jenny
Jenny Kwak has been a cellist of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra since January 2022 — the latest chapter of a musical journey that began in Gwangju, South Korea.
Her training traces an arc from Texas to the Northeast: a Bachelor of Music at Texas Christian University with Jesús Castro-Balbi, master's degrees at the Yale School of Music with the legendary Aldo Parisot, and doctoral studies at Stony Brook University with Colin Carr. Along the way she was a full-scholarship fellow at the Music Academy of the West and principal cellist of the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan.
As a 2018 Zarin Mehta Fellow she joined the New York Philharmonic for a ten-day residency, performing alongside the orchestra in subscription concerts. A winner of the TCU concerto competition and of first prize at the Music in the Mountains concerto competition, she has performed on stages from Carnegie Hall to Suntory Hall, and held positions with the New Haven Symphony and as principal cello of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony before winning her seat in Fort Worth.
Her big sound seemed perfectly balanced with the orchestra. Kwak elegantly contrasted the work's lyrical and virtuosic elements with calm confidence.” The Durango Herald · on her Haydn with Music in the Mountains
- 2022Joined the Fort Worth Symphony
- YaleSchool of Music
- 30+Years in music
III · Courante
Performances & milestones
Selected milestones — from a first prize in the Rockies to a section seat at Bass Performance Hall.
-
2013
First prize, Music in the Mountains
Won the festival's concerto competition in Durango, Colorado, and performed Haydn's D-major concerto with the chamber orchestra at Fort Lewis College.
The Durango Herald · July 2013 -
2016
Principal cellist, Pacific Music Festival
Led the cellos of the international festival orchestra under Valery Gergiev in Sapporo, closing the festival on tour at Tokyo's Suntory Hall.
Pacific Music Festival · 2016 academy roster -
2017
Fellow, Music Academy of the West
A full-scholarship summer in Santa Barbara — and, by winter audition, selection as one of ten Zarin Mehta Fellows.
Music Academy of the West · fellow profile -
2018
New York Philharmonic residency
Ten days inside the Philharmonic: mock auditions, lessons with its players, and subscription performances of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet under Stéphane Denève.
New York Philharmonic · fellows announcement, Dec 2017 -
2022
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Won her seat in the cello section, after positions with the New Haven Symphony and as principal cello of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra · musician profile -
2023
Opus Nova Chamber Music Series
Chamber music close to home — “Mozart in the Gardens” at Chandor Gardens, with fellow Dallas–Fort Worth musicians.
Chandor Gardens Foundation · program, Apr 2023
Jenny performs with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra throughout the season — see what's on at fwsymphony.org
IV · Sarabande
Listen
The slow movement — sit a while.
V · Bourrée
Lessons
Jenny teaches cello in person and online. Lessons are shaped around each student — technique, repertoire, and the singing line the instrument was made for.
Online lessons
The same lessons, wherever you are — all you need is a cello and a connection.
- Lessons over video call
- Flexible scheduling
- Open to students anywhere
How lessons begin
-
poco a poco
Inquire
Send a note through the form — a few lines about you, or about your child.
-
a tempo
A conversation
Jenny replies personally to talk goals, timing, and logistics.
-
con brio
First lesson
Meet the cello — in person or online — and begin.
Every cellist starts with an open string.
Lessons begin with a conversation — send Jenny a note about yourself, or about your child.
Inquire about lessonsVI · Gigue
Get in touch
For lesson inquiries and everything else.
- Email jennykwak1215@gmail.com
- Based in Fort Worth, Texas
Send an inquiry
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