A two-time recipient of The Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, Joshua Hong is a conductor, opera coach, and collaborative pianist based in New York City. Joshua graduated in 2020 from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where he studied orchestral conducting under the late Larry Rachleff. At Rice, Joshua made regular appearances with the Shepherd School Orchestras and additionally served as Music Director of the Campanile Orchestra and Assistant Conductor of Shepherd School Opera. His performances have been described as “supple, buoyant… sensitively conducted” (Tim Smith, The Baltimore Sun).
As one of five Music Director Candidates, Joshua guest conducted Symphony in C (Camden, New Jersey) in an all-Mozart program this past December. He has guest conducted a variety of professional orchestras and opera companies in masterworks, opera, ballet, education, and pops concerts. Recent highlights include appearances with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Flint Symphony Orchestra, Opera Baltimore, San Diego Symphony, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
Joshua has served as cover conductor for the symphony orchestras of Atlanta, San Diego, and St. Louis. In this capacity, he has provided assistance to such eminent conductors as Stéphane Denève, Edo de Waart, Jahja Ling, Rafael Payare, Tarmo Peltokoski, Leonard Slatkin, and Robert Spano.
Joshua has been awarded conducting fellowships to the Aspen Music Festival, Atlantic Music Festival, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, and Chautauqua Institution. He also holds a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting from Peabody Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music degree in violin from the Juilliard School. Fond memories of his previous life as a career-minded violinist include advancing with his string quartet to the semi-finals of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and performing the Brahms Piano Quintet with Leon Fleisher.