Music has been one of the most meaningful and transformative parts of my life, shaping not only my artistic growth but also my sense of community and leadership. Since 2019, I have been a dedicated member of the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra (BYSO), where I currently perform in the Youth Symphony, the organization’s highest-level orchestra. Through orchestral music, I have learned the importance of discipline, collaboration, and expressive storytelling. I was honored to be selected for the Washington Music Educators Association’s (WMEA) All-State Orchestra in 7th, 8th, and 10th grade, experiences that allowed me to perform alongside some of the most talented young musicians in Washington. I also performed with the Issaquah High School Chamber Strings Orchestra during 9th and 10th grade and was recently accepted into the Issaquah School District’s Evergreen Philharmonic Orchestra, the district’s honor orchestra, for 11th grade. Along this journey, I was deeply grateful to receive the Most Inspirational Award from BYSO during the 2022–2023 season and from the Issaquah High School Chamber Strings Orchestra during the 2023–2024 school year.
Beyond ensemble performance, I have pursued opportunities to challenge myself through competitions and musical achievement. I earned Second Place in the 2024 Charleston Winter Competition, the 2025 Charleston Classical Music Competition, and the 2025 and 2026 Rising Talents of the World division of the Great Composers Competition. These experiences have strengthened both my confidence as a musician and my passion for sharing music at a higher artistic level.
Most importantly, music has inspired me to give back to my community. In the summer of 2024, I served as an intern at the BYSO Summer Strings Camp, where I assisted with camp organization and mentored younger students. Seeing children discover excitement and confidence through music was incredibly rewarding and reinforced my desire to use music as a way to connect with others.
Driven by this passion, I founded Music 4 Us, a volunteer-based community music organization composed of more than 25 students from the Bellevue Eastside area. Through seasonal concerts and introductory rhythm classes, our group works to make music more accessible and meaningful within the community. For me, music is more than performance—it is a way to inspire, serve, and bring people together.
You can find Justin’s 2024 Winter Music Competition violin performance here.
Watch Justin Ham perform Scherzo Tarantelle Op.16 by Henri Wieniawski on the violin for the 2025 Classical Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Justin Ham perform Violin Concerto, Op. 14. Allegro. by Samuel Baber on the violin for the 2026 Summer Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.