Kai Bryngelson joined the North Carolina Symphony as Associate Concertmaster starting with the 2026/27 season. Originally from Coyhaique, Chile, Bryngelson moved to the United States to pursue music and completed a bachelor’s degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with Jaime Laredo, Jan Mark Sloman, and Malcolm Lowe. He later completed a master’s degree at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he studied with James Ehnes and Stephen Rose.
Passionate about orchestral, solo, and chamber music, Bryngelson has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra. He has also held concertmaster and associate concertmaster positions at the Aspen Festival Orchestra, Jacobs School of Music Philharmonic, Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, and the Colburn School Academy Virtuosi, among others.
As a soloist, Bryngelson most recently shared the stage with Gil Shaham and Adele Anthony, performing the Vivaldi Concerto for Four Violins at the Aspen Music Festival. He has also appeared as a soloist with the Orquesta Sinfónica Universidad de Concepción and other ensembles around Chile.
As a chamber musician, he has worked with members of many prominent string quartets, including the Tokyo String Quartet, Borromeo String Quartet, Emerson String Quartet, and Orion String Quartet. Notable performances include the Shostakovich String Quartet No. 3, Brahms Piano Trio No. 1, Smetana Piano Trio in G minor, Grieg String Quartet No. 1, and Beethoven String Quartet No. 11.
His summer festival engagements include the Aspen Music Festival, Meadowmount School of Music, and Heifetz International Music Institute. He has worked and performed with artists such as Augustin Hadelich, Gil Shaham, Yefim Bronfman, David Kim, Alexander Kerr, Robert Chen, Bing Wang, and David Coucheron.
Aside from music, his biggest passions include hiking, cooking, and sports.
