St. Vincent violinist Jin headed to Brown University

One of the most talented young musicians in the North Bay is headed for Brown University in Rhode Island - to study international relations.

Calvin Jin, a St. Vincent de Paul High School graduate, has won honors for his violin virtuosity from Oakland to Santa Rosa, but he doesn’t plan on making music a career.

“I’m certainly going to keep playing, but I don’t think music will be my profession,” he says. “I’m looking at taking a business approach to my international relations study.”

Entering college, Jin takes with him an array of academic and music awards.

In his four years at St. Vincent he was a National Honors Society Member and a member of the California Scholarship Federation. He performed many hours of volunteer services, most, but not all, music related. Outside the realm of music he provided tech support for the Korean Presbyterian church in San Rafael and was an administrative intern for the Petaluma Historical Museum.

He used his musical talents to serve as an administrative intern for the Santa Rosa Symphony, organized and performed in “The Young Soloists’ Night in Sebastopol.

Whew!

There is more - much more.

Jin won the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition in 2015 and 2016; took second in the Music in the Vineyards Solo Instrumental Competition; was third in the United States Open Music Competition Instrumental Ensemble Senior Division; won the Senior String Division in the Etude Competition; won the Music in the Vineyards Solo Instrumental Competition; and was the winner of the Napa Valley Youth Symphony Concerto Competition.

He was concertmaster for the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra, concertmaster for the Young People’s Chamber Orchestra; co-concertmaster for the Napa Valley Youth Symphony; first violin for the Napa Valley Youth Symphony’s Chamber Ensemble; and concertmaster for the Sinfonia String Orchesta.

He found time to serve as president of the St. Vincent French club and was a key member of the nationally recognized St. Vincent debate team, earning a National Forensic League Degree of Excellence Award.

Did we mention that he was Valedictorian of the St. Vincent de Paul High School graduating class of 2016?

That Jin is a violinist at all is something of a compromise. His mother, Ji-Young Jin, started him playing the piano at about age 6.

“My mom found out it wasn’t easy teaching her own son,” Jin explained. “We found a friend who was a violin teacher, so we decided to try that.

“Initially it was quite hard. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I do now.”

That has changed. Jin now enjoys his part in playing the music he loves.

“My musical taste has always been classical music,” he explains. “I find joy in playing music I enjoy. It is an honor to play the works of great composers.”

He acknowledges that he practices “quite a lot,” but is quick to note it is not a sacrifice.

“I love music and I want to play the great works,” he said. “If I am going to play them, I might as well give it my all.”

His church, the Korean Presbyterian Church in San Rafael, has been a big part of Jin’s life, not only spiritually, but musically. He plays at the church, sometimes accompanying by his mother as she plays the piano, and also gives free private lessons to children in the church who cannot afford private teachers.

Jin is technically not a native Petaluman, but he is about as close as you can get, moving with his parents from San Diego before he had reached his second birthday.

His elementary education was at a Montessori school and later Harvest Christian School. Given that background, it was only natural that he continue his education at a small private high school, and Jin said he enjoyed his time at St. Vincent, where everyone knows everyone else.

Now, it is on to the next big step in his life - Brown University - where music will remain part of his life, but education will sit in the first chair.

(Contact John Jackson at johnie.jackson@arguscourier.com)