Jordan Bak

Award-winning Jamaican-American violist Jordan Bak has achieved international acclaim as a trailblazing artist, praised for his radiant stage presence, dynamic interpretations and fearless power. Critics have described him as “an exciting new voice in Classical performance” (I Care If You Listen), “a powerhouse musician, with a strong voice and compelling sound” (The Whole Note) and lauded his “haunting lyrical grace” (Gramophone).

Credentials

• Former Professor of Viola at Bowling Green State University.
• Visiting Artist and Ambassador for Music Masters in London.
• Has given masterclasses at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Oberlin Conservatory, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (UK), Conservatorio del Tolima (Colombia) and the Brevard Music Center.

Career Highlights

• Debut album IMPULSE (Bright Shiny Things) was released in May 2022, garnering over one million streams on major digital media platforms and featuring new compositions by Tyson Gholston Davis, Toshio Hosokawa, Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti, Quinn Mason, Jeffrey Mumford and Joan Tower.
• Gave the world premieres of Kaija Saariaho’s "Du gick, flög" for viola and mezzo-soprano; Jessica Meyer’s "Excessive Use of Force" for solo viola and "On fire…no, after you" for viola, mezzo-soprano and piano; and Augusta Read Thomas’ "Upon Wings of Words" for string quartet and soprano.
• Appeared as soloist with such orchestras as Sarasota Orchestra, London Mozart Players, New York Classical Players, Juilliard Orchestra and Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra.
• Performed under esteemed conductors including Howard Griffiths, Stephen Mulligan, Keith Lockhart, Gerard Schwarz and Ewa Strusińska.
• As a recitalist and chamber musician, has been heard at some of the world’s greatest performance venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Wigmore Hall, Jordan Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Princeton University Concerts, Perelman Theater at The Kimmel Center, Elgar Concert Hall and Helsinki Musiikkitalo.
• Performed as a guest with the Verona Quartet and Merz Trio, and has collaborated with such artists as Jonathan Biss, Lara Downes, Jennifer Frautschi, Ani Kavafian, Soovin Kim, Charles Neidich, Marina Piccinini and Gilles Vonsattel.

Awards, Recognitions and Honors

• 2021 YCAT Robey Artist.
• Top laureate of the 2020 Sphinx Competition.
• Grand Prize winner and Audience Prize recipient of the 2019 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition.
• Recipient of the 2019 Samuel Sanders Tel Aviv Museum Prize.
• Winner of the 2019 John White Special Prize from the Tertis International Viola Competition.
• Named one of ClassicFM's "30 Under 30" Rising Stars.
• Musical America’s New Artist of the Month.
• Featured artist for WQXR’s inaugural Artist Propulsion Lab.
• The third violist ever to earn the Artist Diploma from The Juilliard School, where he was awarded the prestigious Kovner Fellowship.