News Release

Ga-young "Claire" Jeong, a graduating senior from Seoul, Korea, has been named co-recipient of The Johns Hopkins University's 2004 Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts for her cello performances of Bach and Schuman. She shares the award with another graduating senior, Julia Wu of New York City.

The $1,500 Sudler Prize is awarded annually, typically to one graduating senior or fourth-year medical student who does not plan to pursue a career in the arts but displays artistic talent. This year, Jeong and Wu, a pianist, were selected out of 17 applicants to receive the prize. The prize money was divided equally between Jeong and Wu.

Jeong last month earned her bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering with a concentration in materials science. As a student, she recorded performances of Bach's "Suite No. 4" and Schumann's "Cello Concerto in A minor op. 129." Jeong, 23, took lessons at The Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins and has been playing the cello since she was 11, when she first watched a friend play the instrument.

"I fell in love with the 'huge violin' and its sounds," she said. "So I started playing the cello, and cello became one of my best friends in my life."

Jeong will conduct cancer research for a year at the National Institutes of Health and then go to graduate school to study either biomedical or chemical engineering. She also plans to one day join a touring musical trio.

"I love playing the cello," she said, "and I know I will until I cannot play it any more."

Jeong is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jin Yang Jeong of Seoul, Korea. She is a graduate of Island High School in Hong Kong. For information, contact Amy Cowles at 443-287-9960.