Emily Kwak began substitute teaching at the New Jersey School of Music over ten years ago, and she is thrilled to become part of our staff as of Summer 2024. She started cello at age six, and her teachers included Mimi Morris-Kim, Lynne Beiler, Victoria de la Cruz, and Derek Barnes of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She studied with Jeffrey Solow at Temple University, and served as graduate assistant to Dr. Lawrence Stomberg at the University of Delaware. Emily grew up in Audubon, NJ and currently resides in Princeton with her husband.
An avid orchestra musician, Emily was a member of the Cape Ann Symphony Orchestra during its 2022-2023 season. She has also performed professionally with the Claflin Hill Symphony, the Wellesley Symphony, the South Orange Symphony, and the LUX Orchestra Initiative. She attended the National Orchestral Institute and the Pierre Monteux School, where she played the cello solos from Don Quixote during a reading session. Emily was a longtime cellist with the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey, and still performs with them when she is able.
When not teaching, Emily performs weddings with the Highline String Quartet. She is also an opera singer and theater nerd, recently performing onstage with Boheme Opera NJ, Moorestown Theater Company, and Bucks County Gilbert & Sullivan Society. In February 2024 Emily founded the Iolanthe Opera Company, which aims to bring non-traditional stagings of Gilbert & Sullivan, Mozart and more to Mercer County.
Cello lessons with Emily are available on Thursday.
