Youth Orchestra
Asher Koh
Asher Koh is 17 years old and a senior at Parkway Central High School. This year is his fourth season with the St. Louis Youth Symphony Orchestra. Asher started learning the violin at the age of 3 ½ and is currently studying with Mrs. Winifred Crock. He was privileged to be part of the first violin section in the Missouri All-State Orchestra from 2022 to 2024. In the summer of 2024, Asher participated in Center Stage Strings at the University of Michigan, studying with Simon James, and played the viola in a quartet. He also participated in Credo National Festival in Chicago, receiving mentorship and instruction from David Taylor, Lisa-Beth Lambert, and Holly Jenkins.
Asher took up a second instrument, the piano, at the age of 5. Currently, he studies with Mrs. Vera Parkin. Asher won the St. Charles Community College’s Young Artist Competition 2020, playing Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin, and received an honorable mention in the UMSL Young Artist Competition 2022 with the same piece. In 2023, he was the runner-up in the University City Young Artist Competition, playing Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto, and was honored to be able to perform the first movement with the University City Symphonic Orchestra. Additionally, in the same year, he received an honorable mention in the MTNA Senior Piano Competition.
Besides playing the violin and the piano, Asher also loves to arrange, improvise, and play the guitar. He serves regularly in his church’s worship band on all three instruments.
Asher would like to thank Anita Lin, Lansin Kimler, Dolly Hsu, Jackie Gross, Winifred Crock, Vera Parkin, Clay McKinney, and Alicia Bont for teaching him and providing many opportunities for him to develop his musicianship.
