Eric Chang is a sophomore at John Burroughs School in St. Louis, Missouri. He began studying violin at age five and currently studies with Pavel Ilyashov. Eric has earned numerous honors, including First Prize at the Artist Presentation Society Young Artist Competition, Gold Medal at the St. Louis Area Music Teachers Association Young Artist Competition, two Missouri Music Teachers Association State String Solo Competition titles, and runner-up at the Music Teachers National Association Missouri Junior String Competition. He was also named an alternate for the National Youth Orchestra 2 (NYO2). As a concerto competition winner, he has appeared as a soloist with the Town and Country Symphony Orchestra (2025) and the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra (2026). An active orchestral musician, Eric has served as Concertmaster of the John Burroughs School Orchestra and Webster University’s Young People’s Concert Orchestra. Now in his fourth season with the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, he serves as Assistant Principal Second Violin. He was also selected as third chair of the 2026 Missouri All-State Orchestra. Eric has attended the Heifetz International Music Institute, Northwestern University’s Bienen Violin Institute, Vivace International Music Festival, and Boston University Tanglewood Institute. He has participated in masterclasses with renowned violinists Stella Chen, Simon James, Paul Kantor, and Jaime Laredo. Outside of music, Eric enjoys soccer, tennis, reading, and spending time with friends. He is grateful for the continued support of his family, teachers, and mentors.
Watch Eric P. Chang perform Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37 I. Allegro non troppo by Henri Vieuxtemps on the violin for the 2026 Instrumental Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.