“deep and ingenious music-making of great perfection”
– Kölner Stadtsanzeiger

Born and raised in California, Julia Tom has performed as soloist with a number of orchestras, including the San Francisco Symphony, Oakland Symphony, the Palo Alto Philharmonic, the Bonn University Collegium Musicum, and the Bach Society Orchestra of Harvard University. In the US, she studied with Joel Krosnick at the Juilliard School of Music while completing a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature at Harvard University. She has distinguished herself in numerous competitions, receiving the Grand Prize at the Torneo Internazionale di Musica Competition and reaching the finals of the ARD Munich Competition.

Julia Tom studied with Frans Helmerson and Ralph Kirchbaum, and received further musical training from Yo-Yo Ma, Steven Isserlis, Boris Pergamenschikow, David Geringas and Bernard Greenhouse. As a member of the Verano Quartet and Oberon Trio, she studied and performed for years under the close mentorship of the Alban Berg Quartet and Melos Quartet.

Julia joined the cello group of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in January 2010. Previously, she was principal cellist of the Bremen Philharmonic, and toured regularly with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Julia is a member of the Amsterdam Ensemble, together with violinist Rosanne Philippens, clarinetist Michael Hesselink, and pianist Eildert Beeftink. The Amsterdam Ensemble was nominated for the 2011 Grachtenfestival Prize.