Ben Hong

Cellist Ben Hong joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1993 at the age of 24 as Assistant Principal Cello. He currently serves as Associate Principal Cello, a position he was appointed to in 2015 by Music Director Gustavo Dudamel. Hong also frequently performs as a soloist and as a member of chamber music ensembles. Concerto appearances with the LA Phil have included the U.S. premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s cello concerto Kai, the LA Phil premiere of Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger Concerto, and the U.S. premiere of Bernd Alois Zimmermann’s Cello Concerto. He has collaborated with such artists as Emanuel Ax, Yefim Bronfman, Lang Lang, Sir Simon Rattle, and Esa-Pekka Salonen.

In 2009, Hong was hired by DreamWorks Pictures to train several members of the cast of the movie The Soloist, including Jamie Foxx. He was also the featured soloist on the soundtrack, which was released on the Deutsche Grammophon label.

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Hong began studying the cello at age 9 with WanLing Sun and won his native country’s National Cello Competition three years in a row before leaving home at age 13 to study at the Juilliard School. He later studied with Lynn Harrell at the University of Southern California’s School of Music before joining the LA Phil. Hong currently serves on the faculty at the Colburn School, USC’s Thornton School of Music, and UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music. Additionally, he frequently presents clinics and masterclasses in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.