Bridges Between Form and Sound: A Conversation with Young Cellist Charles Fong

As part of a special artist spotlight series launched by the Paulus Hook Music Foundation, we sit down with 11th-grade cellist Charles Fong. Based in Connecticut and studying cello at Starworks Music Studios in White Plains, Charles brings a uniquely analytical and compassionate eye to his music-making—one shaped as much by classical scores as by architectural blueprints and robotics.

 

 

Over the past four years, Charles’s cello journey has naturally evolved from dedicated practice to gracing legendary New York stages. Performing in ensembles at venues like Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium and Zankel Hall gave him an early appreciation for human connection in music, where locking into shared harmonies with fellow young musicians allows him to feel the true majesty of art.

 

This season brought an even bigger milestone: at the 2026 New York Big Apple Music Festival, Charles had the incredible opportunity to perform alongside the New York International Symphony Orchestra for the very first time. Stepping onto the stage for the initial rehearsals, he admits he was gripped by nerves. Performing alongside professional musicians felt like stepping into an entirely different league. Yet, that anxiety began to shift thanks to the steady hands guiding him. With his teacher, Qianci Liu, and conductor Scott Gentile offering continuous patience and practical advice, he learned how to navigate the score within a massive orchestral texture. Naturally, as it was his very first time performing on stage with an orchestra, the performance wasn't completely flawless, but it turned out to be an invaluable and unforgettable learning experience.

 

 

Beyond the concert hall, Charles channels his art toward public welfare. His involvement with benefit events, such as the NJ Good Grief charity concert, stems from a genuine desire to give back. Learning about Good Grief's mission to support children and families navigating the profound loss of a loved one left a deep impact on him. Knowing that his cello can contribute to fundraising efforts for these kids gives his performances a profound sense of purpose.

 

This thoughtful perspective also shapes his musical taste. In a world that feels increasingly loud and frantic, Charles prefers repertoire that offers quiet shelter. He naturally gravitates toward serene, soothing pieces, hoping that the warm, resonant voice of the cello can offer a moment of stillness and healing for listeners.

 

 

That depth of feeling is mirrored in his rich inner world of design and technology. Outside of cello, Charles is a passionate tech and design enthusiast who loves building robots, competing in robotics tournaments, drawing, and reading. Above all, he spends a significant amount of time studying architecture and design—with a particular fascination for sound and acoustics within architectural spaces.

 

For Charles, architecture and music are deeply intertwined. Having performed in diverse acoustic environments on major stages, he loves exploring how spatial design shapes sound waves and how buildings manipulate echoes. When he looks at a blueprint, he sees the same structural integrity, proportion, and spatial flow that govern a multi-movement cello work. Just as an architect designs spaces for the ear as much as the eye, a musician must understand the underlying framework of a piece. This acoustic and structural mindset gives his approach to the cello a distinct clarity, letting him visualize a piece not just as a sequence of notes, but as a living, resonant space.

 

 

Reflecting on what this entire experience means, Charles sums it up simply as transcendent. Looking ahead, his aspirations reach far beyond the concert hall. With his deep passion for architecture and design, Charles dreams of one day performing his cello inside a building of his own design—a space where his crafted acoustics and musical resonance completely merge. Furthermore, he hopes that the structures he builds in the future will serve as welcoming havens for others, inspiring more people to gather and carry out meaningful public welfare and charity work within them. He looks forward to diving deeper into the cello repertoire and continuing to use his art to bring comfort and healing to audiences everywhere.