Ben Hong, associate principal cello of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has joined the faculty of The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music as professor of cello performance after serving as a lecturer in the program. A versatile artist known for his impeccable artistry and tremendous energy, Hong brings a wealth of experience in solo, orchestral and chamber performance to the string faculty.
Hong’s more than three-decade tenure with the Los Angeles Philharmonic is a distinguished one. He joined the LA Phil in 1993 very shortly after Esa Pekka Salonen began his tenure as artistic director. He won the audition for assistant principal cello in 1994. In 2015 he won the position of associate principal cello, a role he has held through this year.
“Ben Hong is highly regarded by some of the world’s greatest conductors,” said Michael Beckerman, dean of The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. “His leadership and consummate musicianship has earned him the respect of his peers in one of the greatest symphony orchestras today. And anyone who has heard him perform can’t help but be moved by his artistry and technical prowess.”
Hong has had a prolific solo career. In 2000, Hong premiered of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s “Kai” for solo cello and ensemble with the LA Philharmonic at the Ojai Music Festival under the direction of Sir ??????? in a performance that The New York Times dubbed “soulful” and dramatic.
In 2018, Hong performed the United States premiere of Bernd Alois Zimmermann’s cello concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of Susanna Mälkki at Walt Disney Concert Hall. On very short notice, Hong gave the U.S. premiere of the first two movements of the concerto, with two other cellists premiering the later movements of the piece. Writing in the Los Angeles Times, critic Mark Swed praised Hong’s musicianship and the eloquence with which he captured the work’s dreamlike and otherworldly solo line.
Hong has also appeared as a soloist and chamber musician in Asia, Europe and North America. Notable engagements include the Taipei Music Academy & Festival, the Borromeo Music Festival in Altdorf, Switzerland, and the Festival Musique et Vin au Clos. He is in high demand at these and other international gatherings as both a performer and a teacher.
“Ben Hong has an international reputation as an artist and as a teacher,” said James Bass, voice professor and chair of the Department of Music Performance, Education & Composition. “He has the respect of his peers, and also the respect of his students.”
Hong’s versatility has also brought him into the world of popular culture. In 2008, he coached Jamie Foxx on playing the cello for his role in the film The Soloist and served as the film’s musical technical advisor. Hong also recorded all of the solo cello music heard in the film and on its soundtrack. In 2020, the Los Angeles Lakers asked Hong to perform “Hallelujah” for pregame memorial services for Kobe Bryant. His soulful performance was remembered by Lakers players as “their most emotional moment since Bryant’s death.”
Tim Harris, the Lakers’ president of business operations and chief operating officer, remarked: “As far as Lakers’ fans are concerned, he’s not a cello player, he’s the cello player.”
Hong has been teaching on the faculty and is eager to begin working with the school’s young musicians. For Hong, teaching is a natural extension of performing—an opportunity to pass on the musical values, discipline and curiosity that have shaped his own career.
“Teaching is of course about imparting technical skills—the bowings, the fingerings, things like that—and the repertoire,” said Hong. “But what is really great about teaching is giving students the inspiration and enthusiasm to solve problems on their own. I love the students I have met at the school of music, and I’m excited to join the faculty full time.”