Wagner & Kong
Cello and Piano Duo
With Christoph Wagner, Cello
Christoph Wagner and Joanne Kong have been praised for their impeccable ensemble and sensitive, communicative performances that convey the unique power of music.
Dr. Christoph Wagner is a prize-winning cellist, sought-after chamber musician, and pedagogue. He received first prizes at the German Youth Competition Jugend Musiziert, Ribalta Mozart Italia in Italy, and the Peter Pirazzi Competition in Germany. Prize-winner of the National Society of Arts and Letters competition in Bloomington, Indiana in both 2016 and 2017, he holds scholarships from the Richard Wagner Verband in Frankfurt, the Lions Club in Karlsruhe, and the Theodor Rogler Foundation for Young Musicians. In 2018, he received the Sviatoslav Richter Grant from Rice University, followed by the Amici di Via Gabina Fellowship in 2019 for research and performances in Italy. Wagner has performed in major concert halls in Europe such as the Berlin Philharmonie and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam under renowned conductors including Jonathan Nott, Lothar Zagrosek and Stefan Asbury, and appeared at the Wiesbaden Winter Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, and the Holocaust Museum in Houston, Texas. His international career has spanned four continents, including appearances in Switzerland, Croatia, France, Italy, South Africa, South America, China, South Korea and the US.
Wagner has been a passionate music ambassador as fellowship holder from Live Music Now – Yehudi Menuhin Foundation in Germany and as a musician in Classical Connections in Bloomington where he played numerous concerts in underserved areas. Active in expanding the role of the arts in community outreach, Wagner participated in a summer residency with Street Symphony in Los Angeles in 2018, working with homeless and prison communities, and he designed a program through the DACAMERA Young Artist Program combining health, mindfulness and music for underserved communities in the Houston area.
Wagner received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Music in Frankfurt, a Master of Music at Indiana University, holds a Performance Diploma from the Conservatory of Music L’Hay-les-Roses in Paris, France, and received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. His doctoral dissertation is titled “Injuries in Professional Orchestral Musicians – An Overview of Current Data and Trends.” His research at Houston Methodist hospital addressed artist health, injury prevention, and peak performance, including several systematic reviews to investigate (1) effectiveness of curriculum for artist health and peak performance, (2) coaching in music performance and education, and (3) the role of nutrition in musical peak performance. His goal in the near future is to design a core curriculum university class featuring musicians’ health and peak performance.
Accolades and Endorsements
This concert can only be described in superlatives. The memorable message of compassionate oneness was exquisitely delivered and warmly received by those in attendance.
Loretta Rowe
What a privilege it was to host Wagner and Kong for their Strands of Compassion concert! Their performance displayed not only exceptional technical ability and artistry, but also heartfelt playing and deep soulful connection to the music, the audience, and all beings. It was truly extraordinary! Attendees were so moved and remarked that they experienced the spirit of life through Joanne and Christoph’s music and reflections.
Tonja Nansel
Christoph and Joanne come together with exquisite beauty. Their level of technical ability is the underpinning of their intuitive and soulful playing. That unique ability – the gift of sharing – from the composer, to and through Christoph and Joanne, and into the body and soul of the listener speaks to the depth of their connection to the music and each other. Their playing is exquisite and is a gift to all who have the opportunity of experiencing them.
Carol Jacobs, Pianist
Joanne Kong and Christoph Wagner have created a winning partnership, indeed!
Their sweet, soothing sounds and thought-provoking words gently transcend the audience into a state of calm and kindness. Bravo!!
Karyn Kuhn
beautiful lyricism, artistic, charismatic interpretation…
Frances Walton Competition
Thank you again for such a unique and inspirational evening. The artists were magnificent and their program sublime.
The concert was marvelous! Hearing these superb musicians in the comfort of your beautiful home was a delight.
Wow — what an incredible concert! It is such a treat to hear musicians of that caliber. To hear them up close and in person is a thrill. Still basking in the enjoyment of the evening.
House Concert, home of Drs. Jose and Carol Alonso, Orinda, California