Kwok Tsun-yuet, Emmanuel
Cello
Native of Hong Kong, Tsun-yuet Emmanuel Kwok has appeared as soloist in Europe, Asia, and the United States, and has also performed over 30 world premieres of contemporary music. Kwok is currently a member of the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra and has previously played with orchestras including the Dallas Chamber Symphony, Plano Symphony, Irving Symphony, Hong Kong New Philharmonic, Collegium Musicum Hong Kong and Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. He played solo and chamber recitals both in Asia and in the States, and solo appearances with orchestras including Mesquite Symphony, Collegium Musicum Hong Kong, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Art Academy Orchestra and Hong Kong Baptist University Symphony Orchestra. He has received numerous awards, including 1st prize in the Hong Kong Music Festival and 2nd prize in the National Competition of Asia. In addition to his classical performance, he worked with worship ministries and pop singers in Southeast Asia, recording more than ten CDs as solo cellist; in 2021, he also worked with RedSeaMusic (CA, USA) to produce music videos. Kwok’s future commitment including playing chamber recitals in Dallas-Fort Worth area and solo performances with Mansfield Philharmonic and Coppell Community Orchestra in the season of 2021 to 2022.
Kwok began cello study at the age of 6 in Hong Kong under Ms. Tung Hiu-lo. After finishing his Master of Music in cello performance with Professor Ray Wang at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, he came to the United States and completed an Artist Diploma at Texas Christian University, where he studied with Professor Jesús Castro-Balbi. He is currently a doctoral candidate (ABD) at TCU School of Music, majoring in Cello Performance with cognate in Music Theory. In the U.S. he has also studied with Professor Eugene Osadchy, Dr. Ignacy Gaydamovich, Jennifer Humphreys, Christine Lamprea and Annie Camp. He also had the privilege of coaching by Johannes Moser, Lynn Harrell, Steven Isserlis, Bagram Saradjian, Dmitri Atapine, Maja Bogdanovic and Li-Wei Qin. As musician and scholar, Kwok holds memberships of Pi Kappa Lambda International Music Honor Society and Golden Key International Honor Society.
Kwok was appointed as Assistant to Artistic Director of the Texas Cellos School in 2021, and was previously served as faculty of Clear Creek Music Festival (OR), TCU Summer Cello Academy and Fort Worth B Sharp Youth Music Program. During his stay at TCU, he also serves as Professor Castro-Balbi’s teaching assistant as well as assistant director of TCU Cello Ensemble. Kwok believes in Authentic Christianity and the philosophy of Authentic Music Performance. Besides cello playing, he loves fishing, reading, trying new foods, enjoying movies, video games and music arranging.
Kwok is now in USA and offers Zoom lessons only.