Er-Gene Kahng is a renowned classical music artist who has made a name for herself as a violinist, chamber musician, and educator. Born in South Korea, Kahng grew up in a family of musicians and began playing the violin at the age of four. Her parents, both professional musicians, recognized her talent early on and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Kahng's early training was rigorous and focused on developing her technical skills. She studied with some of the most respected violin teachers in South Korea, including Nam-Yun Kim and Young-Uck Kim. At the age of 12, she won first prize in the Korean National Youth Competition, which marked the beginning of her career as a soloist. In 1995, Kahng moved to the United States to continue her studies at the Juilliard School in New York City. There, she studied with Dorothy DeLay, one of the most influential violin teachers of the 20th century. Under DeLay's guidance, Kahng honed her skills as a performer and developed a deep understanding of the music she played. Kahng's talent and hard work paid off when she won the Juilliard Concerto Competition in 1998, which led to her debut performance with the Juilliard Orchestra. This performance was a turning point in Kahng's career, as it brought her to the attention of the classical music world. Since then, Kahng has performed as a soloist with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed in major concert halls around the world, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Seoul Arts Center. In addition to her work as a soloist, Kahng is also an accomplished chamber musician. She has performed with some of the most respected chamber ensembles in the world, including the Borromeo String Quartet and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Her collaborations with other musicians have been praised for their sensitivity and musicality. Kahng's dedication to music education is also an important part of her career. She has taught at several universities, including the University of Arkansas and the University of Missouri. She is currently a professor of violin at the University of Central Missouri, where she is known for her commitment to helping her students develop their own musical voices. Throughout her career, Kahng has received numerous awards and honors for her performances and recordings. In 2018, she was awarded the Missouri Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the arts in the state of Missouri. She has also been recognized for her work as a recording artist, with several of her recordings receiving critical acclaim. Kahng's repertoire is wide-ranging and includes works from the Baroque era to contemporary music. She is particularly known for her interpretations of works by underrepresented composers, including Florence Price and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Her commitment to promoting the work of these composers has helped to bring their music to a wider audience. In addition to her work as a performer and educator, Kahng is also a dedicated philanthropist. She has worked with several organizations that promote music education and support young musicians, including the Sphinx Organization and the Korean American Scholarship Foundation.

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