Brothers Daniel and Justin Kang from Laveen, Arizona, perform Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite arranged by Eduard Langer for four hands, one piano. Sibling synergy is in high gear as Daniel and Justin capture the dramatic energy of this classic piece!
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Laveen, Arizona Daniel performs with his brother, Justin, on Show 466.
Daniel Kang (piano), 17, from Laveen, Arizona, has been studying piano with Snezana Krstic. In addition to piano, he also studies violin with Julian Nguyen.
As a pianist, Daniel has received a number of awards, including first prize in the 2023 Opus National Competition, the 2023 MTNA Arizona Senior Piano Competition, the 2022 Charleston International Piano Competition, and the 2022 American Music Talent Competition. Additionally, he has won first prize in the Arizona Musicfest Piano Competition and the AMEA Solo and Ensemble Competition for three consecutive years. Daniel has also had the honor of performing in masterclasses led by esteemed artists such as Sean Chen, Norman Krieger, Douglas Humphreys, Alan Chow, Pavlina Dokovska, Nelita True, Yuri Kot, Eugene and Elizabeth Pridonoff, Dian Baker, and Eckart Sellheim.
An avid chamber musician, David recently won first prize in the 2024 Arizona Musicfest Chamber Ensemble Competition. Daniel also served as the orchestral keyboard player in the 2023 National Youth Orchestra (NYO2), performing at Carnegie Hall and on tour in the Dominican Republic.
As a violinist, Daniel is a member of the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestra and has participated in the AMEA All-State Festival for three consecutive years as a member of the first violin section. He was also a member of the 2022 YOLA National Festival Orchestra.
Outside of performing, Daniel is deeply involved in community service. As the current president of Bridge to Music, he leads efforts to connect the community through music-related projects such as second-hand instrument drives, organizing concerts at local senior homes, and musically supporting fundraisers for many causes.
Daniel is a recipient of the Tim Banker Talent Development Award which will support Daniel’s training by making it possible for him to attend the Bowdoin International Music Festival this coming summer. The funds will also support his private lesson tuition and cover the cost of important consultation lessons in his upcoming senior year in high school, as he prepares for his college auditions.
Laveen, Arizona Justin performs with his brother, Daniel, on Show 466.
Justin Kang (piano), 14, from Laveen, Arizona, studies piano with Snezana Krstic and cello with Jamie Kellogg. Justin has garnered multiple accolades from both piano and string competitions, including prizes from the MTNA Piano Performance State Competition, the 2022 Charleston International Piano Competition, the 2022 American Music Talent Competition, the 2023 Opus National Music Competition, the 2023 Arizona International Music Competition, the 2023 Steinway/Avanti Future Stars Competition, the Arizona Musicfest Competition, the American String Teachers’ Association’s State Solo Competition, the 2021 Arizona Cello Society’s Solo Competition, and the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras’ (PYSO) Annual Young Artist Competition, where Justin was awarded the 2024 Grand Prize. Winning the Young Artist Competition led to Justin’s debut as a soloist, performing the Elgar Cello Concerto with the Phoenix Symphony.
Justin has had the opportunity to perform in piano masterclasses given by esteemed artists such as Sean Chen, Alan Chow, Pavlina Dokovska, Douglas Humphrey, Yuri Kot, and Elisabeth Pridonoff, as well as in a cello masterclass led by Noriko Kishi at the 2022 Arizona Bach Festival. Justin performs as a cellist in the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestra as well as in his church ensemble. He served as associate principal cellist at the 2024 AMEA High School All-State Festival and principal cellist at the 2023 YOLA National Festival, including for their culminating concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
In 2020, Justin co-founded Bridge to Music, a student organization with a mission of connecting music and the community. He also volunteers as a radio host at Heart and Seoul Gospel ministries. During his free time, Justin enjoys composing music, playing volleyball and chess, and actively participating in his school’s yearbook club.
Justin is a recipient of From the Top’s Tim Banker Talent Development Award. This award will make it possible for Justin to attend the Boston University Tanglewood Institute summer program and provide private tuition this coming scholastic year.
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