Hong is the third recipient of the annual Gurrena Fellowship, which offers financial support, mentorship and concert engagements
The Meadowmount School of Music has awarded its third annual Gurrena Fellowship, worth $50,000, to Japanese-Taiwanese American violinist Kento Hong.
The Gurrena Fellowship was created in 2022 in memory of David A. Barnebl, an educated, passionate music lover, by his wife, Linda Gurrena Barnebl, of Panton, VT. The purpose of the fellowship is to support and encourage exceptionally talented students to become successful in their professional journey.
The fellowship enables its recipients to continue to pursue their careers without the burden of financial constraint. During the fellowship year, the recipient receives financial support and mentorship, featured concert engagements supported by Meadowmount School of Music, and continued collaborations and training with the Meadowmount faculty for the upcoming year and 2025 summer session.
’We are thrilled to award the 2024 Gurrena Fellowship to violinist Kento Hong,’ said artistic director Janet Sung. ’Kento is a highly engaging and impressive performer whose prodigious talent shows that the future of music is very bright. We look forward to supporting Kento as he embarks on this next phase of his musical career.’
Born in New York in 2006, Hong began his violin studies aged six under Aimee Kreston. He has been a student at Juilliard’s pre-college division since the age of ten, studying with Dr. Ann Setzer and has attended Meadowmount over the past three summers from 2022 to 2024.
Hong said he was ‘thrilled and honoured’ to receive the 2024 Gurrena Fellowship.
’Working extensively with Dr. Ann Setzer at Meadowmount expanded my artistry during these crucial pre-college years and has connected me with an inspiring musical community of friends and collaborators,’ he commented. ‘I’m deeply grateful to Meadowmount and everyone who has supported me; I look forward to carrying this experience forward.’
Hong has won prizes at numerous competitions, including the 2021 Yehudi Menuhin International Competition (fourth prize), 2022 Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition (sixth prize and audience prize), and the 2024 Arthur Grumiaux Competition (third prize). He has also won first prizes in other competitions, including the Chicago International Violin Competition, the Camerata Artists International Competition, and the Chappaqua Orchestra Concerto Competition.
Hong was selected as an active finalist participant in the Kronberg Academy Masterclass 2023 and has been a guest artist on NPR’s From The Top.
Hong is the first violinist to have received the Gurrena Fellowship, with cellists Sydney Lee and Luiz Fernando Venturelli receiving the award in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
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