Strings
About Us
Regents Strings is a group of classical musicians based in San Diego, formed in 2024 by UC San Diego musicians with a passion for classical music. Since its inception, Regents Strings has performed at weddings, galas, and UC San Diego events, showcasing their artistry and dedication to creating memorable experiences. Beyond their professional engagements, Regents Strings is deeply committed to community enrichment, volunteering their talents at schools, senior living facilities, and community performances.
Raymond Li
Raymond Li is a second-year Neurobiology major at UCSD. Growing up in Shanghai, China, Raymond began his musical journey on the violin at the age of 5 under the tutelage of Xinyi Zhu. He received certification with honors in 2018 from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in Violin Performance and was a two-time recipient of the Thoreau Medal in Music in 2021 and 2023 from Middlesex School (Concord, MA), where he studied with Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra member, Micheal Hustedde. In the mountains of Tuscany, Italy during the summer of 2022, Raymond developed a newfound love for chamber music (and Italian food!) along with his friends from a summer music program. He currently serves as a first violinist and concertmaster on rotation with the UCSD Chamber Orchestra and UCSD Bach Ensemble. In addition, he enjoys teaching violin to young students over summers with his childhood mentor, Xinyi Zhu, and playing chamber music with Room 264, where he serves as a board member. Raymond plays on a 1991 cremonese violin made by Chinese violin-making master, Zheng Quan.
Ivan Wong
Ivan Wong is a first-year student at UCSD majoring in political science. Originally from West Windsor, New Jersey, he started learning violin at the age of seven. His teachers have included Nancy Wilson, performance faculty at Princeton University and the Mannes School of Music, and Wes Precourt, associate concertmaster of the San Diego Symphony. Ivan received the Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in Violin Performance in March 2023. He was the concertmaster of his high school’s Philharmonia and the teaching assistant of its freshman string ensemble, formerly served as concertmaster of the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey’s Symphonic Orchestra, and was a first violinist in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. Ivan is also an avid composer and won New Jersey's Young Composers’ Competition in 2024.
Ryan Jeffers
Ryan Jeffers is a third-year violinist and Economics major at UC San Diego, where he is making significant contributions to the university's musical community. With 15 years of experience playing the violin, Ryan is a first violinist and concertmaster on rotation with the UCSD Chamber Orchestra. Through the Room 264 Chamber Music Club at UCSD, Ryan discovered his love for chamber music, especially the string quartets of Shostakovich. He was a founding member of the club and currently serves as its president, managing performance opportunities and weekly club meetings. Additionally, Ryan is an officer and the conductor of the Student Symphonic Association where he runs rehearsals, directs the ensemble, and organizes events. His passion for all things classical music and his love of performance are key parts of his musical journey.
Kaylyn Majers
Kaylyn Majers is a music performance major with a Spanish literature minor at UC San Diego. She’s been playing the violin for 15 years and the viola for 8, dedicating much of her life to music. Kaylyn has been a Concertmaster since the age of 10, leading all of the Kadima Conservatory of Music’s orchestras, from beginner to advanced, where she also received the Jack Kesselman Award for her passion. In 2015, she was incredibly honored to be selected to perform at Grammy-winning composer Sharon Farber’s Holocaust Film Remembrance Concert. Kaylyn also served as Principal Violist and a coach for the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic and toured with the Daniel Pearl World Music Days. Now, she gives back to the Kadima community by providing music lessons to students and coaching during orchestra rehearsals.
David Zheng
David Zheng is a 2nd-year Structural Engineering student at UC San Diego, where he is the cellist in many chamber groups and ensembles alike. He served as the principal cellist of his high school orchestra, and assistant principal of the Orange County Youth Symphony, and spent years volunteering teaching at local elementary schools cello and music theory alike. David has also had the honor to perform at Carnegie Hall after winning the International American Protege Competition in 2022, and continues to pursue music in his minor both academically and performatively at UC San Diego.