Megan Shung portrait

Megan Shung

Megan Shung, often described as ‘the 21st Century violinist’, is a Grammy-nominated international violinist, composer, and pedagogue based in Los Angeles, California. She is adept at non-traditional performance practices and styles including jazz, pop/rock, experimental music, and has performed/recorded with artists including The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Jhene Aiko, Billy Childs, Kimbra, George Watsky, and Miles Mosley. During the summer, alongside fellow Suzuki cello trainer Avi Friedlander, Megan performs a classical-crossover program as the AM Duo, performing at various Suzuki institutes across the country.

In addition to being an active performer, Megan is a passionate educator. She is on the violin/viola and jazz violin faculty at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music with an active studio. She’s the co-founder of Leading Extraordinary Lessons Online with Carrie Salisbury where she’s trained hundreds of teachers to incorporate technology to enhance their teaching. Her primary mission as an educator is to create a strong technical foundation for her students, by encouraging creativity and experimentation beyond the boundaries of ordinary musicianship. She has taught and performed at several institutes and international schools with a specialty in teaching improvisation to string players.

Megan was born in Houston, Texas (USA), grew up in Taipei, Taiwan. Her musical studies began with her mother at the age of 3 on the piano and started taking violin lessons at the age of 9 at the Taipei American School. In 2001, her family emigrated to Los Angeles, California for a better education. She attended the LA County High School for the Arts, graduated with academic honors, then continued her education at the Cleveland Institute of Music where she earned a Bachelor of Music in violin performance with academic honors studying under David Updegraff. While at CIM, she received her long-term Suzuki training with Kimberly Meier-Sims. Upon graduation, she continued her studies with Paul Kantor in Houston, Texas. Additional Suzuki training by Ed Sprunger, Ann Montzka-Smelser, Liz Arbus, and Sarah Montzka. Past mentors include Richard Schwabe and Henry Gronnier at the Colburn School of Performing Arts. Megan was the recipient of the Dr. Jerome D. Gross Prize in Violin from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2011 and recipient of the International House of Blues Foundation Ambassador Scholarship. Her nontraditional mentors include Tim Kliphuis, Evan Price, and Dayita Datta.