Eric Chang

Eric Chang is a sophomore at John Burroughs School. He began studying the violin at age five and currently studies with Pavel Ilyashov. 

Chang has received numerous honors, including being a two-time winner of the Missouri Music Teachers Association State String Solo Competition, runner-up in the Music Teachers National Association’s Missouri State Junior String Competition, winner of the Artist Presentation Society Young Artist Competition, and Gold Medalist in the St. Louis Area Music Teachers Association’s Young Artist Competition. As a Concerto Competition winner, he has performed as a soloist with the Town and Country Symphony Orchestra (2025) and the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra (2026). 

A dedicated orchestral musician, Chang has served as Concertmaster of both the John Burroughs School Orchestra and the Young People’s Concert Orchestra at Webster University’s Community Music School. Chang is entering his fourth season with the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, where he currently serves as Assistant Principal of the Second Violin section. In 2026, he was also selected as third chair of the Missouri All-State Orchestra. 

Over the years, Chang has attended several prestigious summer programs, including the Heifetz International Music Institute, Northwestern University Bienen School of Music’s Violin Institute, the Vivace International Music Festival, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. He has also had the opportunity to participate in master classes with distinguished violinists including Stella Chen, Simon James, Paul Kantor and Jaime Laredo. 

Chang is deeply grateful for the support and guidance of his family, teachers, and mentors. Outside of music, he enjoys soccer, tennis, reading, and spending time with friends.