Sophia Han

Praised by Classical Voices of North Carolina for “making the violin seem easy, almost as child’s play,” violinist Sophia Han is a versatile performer. Han has appeared as guest soloist with orchestras across the United States and toured with artists including Michael Bublé, Audra McDonald, Stephen Curtis Chapman, and the rock band STARSET.

Currently serving as the Associate Concertmaster of the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Han has performed with the St. Louis Symphony and The Florida Orchestra, in addition to serving in guest leadership roles with the Southern Illinois Music Festival Orchestra and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. Han is also highly sought after as an adjudicator, clinician, and masterclass presenter nationwide.

An active chamber musician, Han performs with the 314 Quartet, the St. Louis Chamber Soloists, and a distinctive violin-saxophone-piano trio alongside her husband, Dr. Zach Stern, and pianist Richard Blumenthal. Han was formerly a member of the Ellen Zwilich -sponsored Eppes Quartet (now the Burgin Quartet).

Her degrees include a Doctor of Music from Florida State University, dual master’s degrees from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where her principal teachers included Corinne Stillwell, Aaron Berofsky, and the late Richard Luby. Most recently, Han served as Associate Professor of Violin and Viola at Southeast Missouri State University, where she founded the Performing Arts Thrive Here (PATH) Entrepreneurship Residency.