Aaron Tam is the new concertmaster of the South Coast Orchestra, beginning with the 2025–26 season.
With his expressive sound and technical fluency, he will be featured in the upcoming Legends Musical production of Chang’e.
Tam has over 25 years of performance experience and more than a decade of teaching.
He has appeared in world-renowned venues including Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and Segerstrom Hall, and has performed internationally in France, Germany, Korea, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. He will continue his active performance career
A Spark in Childhood
Tam’s musical journey began in kindergarten when the whirlwind notes of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Flight of the Bumblebee inspired him to play the violin. That early spark grew into discipline and artistry. Tam went on to complete his Bachelor of Music at the University of California, Irvine, where he was awarded the Marjorie Rawlins Scholarship, won the University Concerto Competition, and served as Concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra.
At California State University, Fullerton, Tam pursued his Master’s in Violin Performance on a full scholarship, again taking on the role of Concertmaster. His training culminated in an Artist Diploma in Orchestral Studies at the San Francisco Academy Orchestra, cementing both technical mastery and a deeper artistic voice.
Across Stages · Across Borders
From Carnegie Hall to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Tam has also performed in some of the world’s most celebrated venues in France, Germany, Korea, China and Taiwan.
One of Tam’s earliest international highlights came in 2008, when he received a scholarship from the International Educational Exchange Association to perform at the Olympic Youth Cultural Festival preceding the Beijing Games.
Today, he performs locally with ensembles such as Synesthesia Sinfonietta, Orchestra Santa Monica, Sea Coast Symphony, and the Gem Theater pit orchestra.
Guiding the Next Generation
While Tam’s performances light up stages, teaching is equally important. For more than a decade, he has taught violin, coaching students at Kraemer Middle School and mentoring young musicians at Harmony Project in Los Angeles.
Beyond the Bow
Off stage, Tam finds creativity in unexpected places. He writes string arrangements of video game music and television scores, merging classical training with contemporary sounds.
Outside music, he enjoys cooking and backpacking, exploring flavors and landscapes with the same curiosity he brings to his art.
The South Coast Chinese Orchestra is thrilled to welcome Aaron Tam as its new concertmaster and looks forward to the artistry and leadership he brings to the ensemble.