Justin Ko

Justin Ko is a freelance trumpet player pursuing a Bachelor of Music Performance at the University of Toronto, where he is a recipient of the Mamie May Scholarship and James Craig Opera Orchestra Award. He is a member of both the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and also holds a position on the 2023/24 substitute list of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida.

 

Active in the community, Justin has most notably performed as principal trumpet with the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, and as second trumpet in a charity performance of Handel’s Messiah with members of the Toronto Symphony. He is also an alumnus of the Hannaford Youth Program and has participated in various summer programs such as Le Domaine Forget de Charlevoix, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute, the National Youth Band of Canada, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and the National Academy Orchestra of the Brott Music Festival.

 

Currently, Justin studies with Steven Woomert, Associate Principal Trumpet of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.  His other significant teachers include Bob Gray, Anita McAlister, Wilfrid Lee, and James Spragg. He has also performed in masterclasses for many renowned artists, including Jeroen Berwaerts, Thomas Hooten, Jens Lindemann, and Alain Trudel.

 

Originally from Richmond Hill, Ontario, Justin began studying music on the violin and piano, and studied the cello alongside the trumpet for many years. Outside of music, Justin also enjoys history and culture. He spends his spare time exploring the city and trying new foods.