Korean American violinist, Dr. Ruth Chang is enjoying a versatile career as an orchestral musician, collaborator, and teacher. She joined the Austin Symphony Orchestra as Assistant Principal Second Violin at the start of the 2022/2023 season. Dr. Chang has performed internationally and across the United States in venues such as the Meyerson Center (Dallas, TX), Bass Performance Hall (Fort Worth, TX), Koussevitsky Music Shed (Lennox, MA), and Suntory Hall (Tokyo, Japan). She has appeared as soloist with orchestras ranging from the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra to the community-based Central Texas Medical Orchestra.

During her training, Dr. Chang has participated in masterclasses with artists such as Joseph Silverstein,

James Ehnes, Ida Kavafian, Kathleen Winkler, and Nathan Cole among others. As an avid chamber musician, she has worked closely with Emanuel Ax, Martin Beaver, Glenn Dicterow, Jeremy Denk, Rainer Küchl, and the Juilliard, Borromeo, and Ying String Quartets.

Dr. Chang’s performances have been featured on BSO Now (Boston Symphony Orchestra), KMFA 89.5

(Austin Classical Radio), and WRR 101.1 (Classical Radio Dallas). She has appeared at major summer festivals including the Tanglewood Music Center, Pacific Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and the Meadowmount School of Music, where she was a Starling Foundation recipient for five summers.

When not performing, Dr. Chang maintains a private studio at her home in North Austin. Her students have earned top rankings in the Texas All-State Orchestras, won prizes in local competitions, and have been accepted into top institutions such as Harvard College.

A Dallas native, Dr. Chang started the violin at the age of four. She holds degrees from the New England Conservatory, Indiana University, and the University of Texas at Austin. She is especially grateful to have received tutelage from Jan Mark Sloman, Sally Thomas, Jing Wang, Paul Biss, Grigory Kalinovsky, and Sandy Yamamoto.

In her spare time, Dr. Chang enjoys practicing pilates, reading, baking, and exploring Austin with her

husband David and mini goldendoodle Teddy.