Rachel Ku

Violist Rachel Ku joined the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2004. She studied with Joseph de Pasquale, former principal viola of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and was a member of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, where she served as principal viola during the 2002-03 season. Ms. Ku has studied viola since age eight, and piano since age five. She made her solo debut in her native Taipei in 1995, and has appeared as a soloist with the Delaware Symphony, the Witherspoon Chamber Orchestra, the Dwun-Hwa Orchestra, and the Curtis Chamber Ensemble. In recent summers, Ms. Ku has participated in the International Music Festival in Saluzzo, Italy; Encore School for Strings; the Sarasota Music Festival; the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival; and the Taos Chamber Music Festival.

Ms. Ku's awards and honors include first prize in the 2004 Delaware Symphony Orchestra Young Soloists Competition, first prize in the Matinee Musical Club of Philadelphia scholarship competition, second prize in the 2002 Riverside Symphony Caprio Young Artists Competition, an honorable mention in the 2001 Philadelphia Orchestra Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition, and first prize in the 1997 Taiwan National Viola Competition. Ms. Ku resides in Center City Philadelphia.