Charis Shing

Charis Shing began playing the violin at age four and is currently a student of Ms. Joo Kim, first violinist of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. This season is her third year with the St. Louis Youth Orchestra. 

At age ten, Shing made her solo debut with the Alton Symphony Orchestra as the Deborah Fox Guild Award recipient. She has since performed with the Town and Country Orchestra, University City Orchestra, and the Community Music School Young People’s Symphonic Orchestra—appearances earned through concerto competition wins. Most recently, she won first prize in the Belleville Philharmonic’s Stars of Tomorrow competition and performed with the orchestra in March 2025.  

Shing is a two-time winner of the MTNA Missouri Junior Strings Competition (2023–2025) and was a national finalist in 2025 after winning the West-Central Division.  

As a passionate chamber musician, she has participated in the Community Music School Preparatory Program for two years. She was the youngest of six finalists and received the program’s full scholarship for the 2024–2025 season. She was also named a 2024–2025 Radar Young Artist by the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis.  

She is deeply grateful to her teacher Ms. Joo Kim, as well as Annette Burkhart, Vera Parkin, Laura Holzen, Rebecca Pantano, Ed Sandheinrich, and her parents for their unwavering support