Biography

Cellist James Baik has been described as an artist with “an undeniable authority,” and one possessing “a real warmth emerging in lyricism” by Belgian newspaper Le Soir, after his astounding performance at the 2021 Queen Elisabeth competition. First Prize Winner of the 2023 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions and recipient of the Paul A. Fish Memorial Prize and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Prize, James is a YCA Jacobs Fellow and is managed worldwide by Young Concert Artists.

James was also a finalist at the 2019 Stulberg International String Competition and would go on to receive the first prize at the Irving M. Klein International Competition. 

Highlights from recent and upcoming performances include James’ recital debuts at the Kennedy Center and Merkin Hall, Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major with the Kansas City Symphony alongside Jeannette Sorrell, and the  Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie alongside Vahan Mardirossian, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with the Mobile Symphony, the Dvořák Cello Concerto with the Colburn Orchestra, under the baton of Sir Andrew Davies at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Brahms’ Double Concerto with the Peninsula Symphony under the baton of Mitchell Sardou Klein, Schumann’s Cello Concerto with the Brevard Music Center, and chamber music performances at the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Bridgehampton Chamber Music, Nevada Chamber Music Festival, and the Buffalo Chamber Music Society.

An active chamber musician, James is a member of the Galvin Cello Quartet. He has worked with many notable musicians such as Noah Bendix-Balgley, Vadim Gluzman, Atar Arad, Arnaud Sussmann, Miriam Fried, Orion Weiss, Michael Stephen Brown, Tessa Lark, and Alexander Sitkovetsky. James is an alumni of the Meadowmount School of Music, Aspen Music Festival, and the Ravinia Steans Music Institute.

During the 25-26 season James will make recital and chamber music appearances at the Kennedy Center, Merkin Hall, the Rockport Chamber Music Festival playing alongside Augustin Hadelich, the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, Calgary Pro Musica, the Kravis Performing Arts Center, as well as special appearances on the YCA Gala in NYC and YCA’s season finale concert at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall. 

Raised in Houston, Texas, James’ early education included studies with Houston Symphony Associate Principal Christopher French and with esteemed pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen in Chicago. James holds a Bachelor of Music degree and is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma from the Colburn Conservatory of Music where he studies with Clive Greensmith. The instrument being used by Baik is a cello made by J.B Guadagnini and is on generous loan from an anonymous donor.