Nationality Korea
Age 28

Sungho Yoo was born in 1996 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. He has had a deep passion for music since he began studying piano at the age of 7. He graduated at the top of his graduating year with his Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree at the Korea National University of Arts under the guidance of Daejin Kim and then he also graduated with his Master’s Degree at the New England Conservatory under the guidance of Dang Thai Son. He is currently pursuing the Konzertexamen under the guidance of Prof. Arie Vardi at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover in Germany. He has recently captured attention on the global stage by winning a special prize at the 2018 Geneva International Music Competition. His other accolades include a prize at the 2020 Seoul International Music Competition. His performance in Moscow with the Novaya Rossiya State Symphony Orchestra, where legendary conductor Yuri Bashmet is an artistic director, received great acclaim from local audiences. He has also performed iconic pieces with numerous orchestras, including Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.2 with the DITTO Orchestra, Beethoven’s Concerto No.3 for the Tongyeong Festival Orchestra, Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.2 with the KBS Symphony Orchestra, Mendelssohn’s Concerto No.1 for Confero Camerata, and Schumann’s Concerto with both the KNUA Symphony Orchestra and the Gunpo Prime Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also won the President’s Award for his contributions as a student to the development of the school at the Korea National University of Arts in 2019. He has demonstrated his versatility and showed his wide range at several performances at various music festivals, such as the Seoul International Music Festival and M Classical Music Festival in Seoul.

[Program]
First Round
• A. Schoenberg Suite for Piano, Op.25
• J. Haydn Andante and Variations in F minor, Hob.XVII:6
• D. Shostakovich Prelude and Fuga No.15 in D-flat major, Op.87

Second Round
• L. v. Beethoven Sonata No.28 in A major, Op.101
• Chen Yi Ba Ban(1999)
• S. Rachmaninoff Sonata No.2 in B-flat minor, Op.36(1931)

Semifinal Round
• R. Schumann Kreisleriana, Op.16
• Texu Kim Pansori Fantasy(2024)
• S. Barber Sonata in E-flat minor, Op.26

Final Round
• S. Prokofiev Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op.16

Nationality Korea
Age 24

Youl Sun won the gold medal, the audience prize and the student jury prize at the 2024 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition last June. In April 2023, he won 2nd prize and the audience prize at the Viseu International Piano Competition in Portugal, drawing attention on the European stage. Following that, he achieved excellent results by winning awards at the 2023 Isangyun Competition, and the Maria Canals International Music Competition. He has performed with renowned conductors such as Antoni Wit, Mark Russell Smith, Seokwon Hong and Samuel Seungwon Lee. He has collaborated with the Minnesota Orchestra, Istanbul Orchestra, Philharmonic Korea and Tongyeong Festival Orchestra. He has also met audiences through solo and collaborative performances at venues including the Cortot Hall in Paris, Seoul Arts Center, Lotte Concert Hall, Sejong Art Center, Gyeonggi Arts Center, and Tongyeong Concert Hall. Youl Sun graduated from Yewon School and while attending Seoul Arts High School, was admitted to and graduated from Korea National University of Arts through the Arts Gifted Selection Program, studying under Daejin Kim. Since 2022, he has continued his musical studies in France. After graduating from the Schola Cantorum in Paris in 2023, he is currently enrolled at the École Normale de Musique de Paris. He is Currently studying under Olivier Gardon and is receiving arts support from the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation.

[Program]
First Round
• L. v. Beethoven Sonata No.6 in F major, Op.10 No.2
• C. Debussy Préludes Livre II, 8. Ondine, 12. Feux d’artifice
• C. V. Alkan Le Festin d’Ésope

Second Round
• M. Clementi Sonata in G major, Op.37 No.2
• E. Grieg Lyric pieces, Op.12 No. 1
• E. Grieg Lyric pieces, Op.43 No. 1
• E. Grieg Lyric pieces, Op.54 No. 3
• E. Grieg Lyric pieces, Op.65 No. 6
• I. Stravinsky Three movements from the ballet Petrushka

Semifinal Round
• Texu Kim Pansori Fantasy(2024)
• J. P. Rameau Les Tendres plaintes
• J. P. Rameau Les Niais de Sologne
• F. Poulenc 10 Improvisations, FP 63
• S. Prokofiev Sonata No.8 in B-flat major, Op.84

Final Round
• S. Prokofiev Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op.26

Nationality Korea
Age 22

Jiwon Jung is praised for his meticulous interpretation and astounding stage presence. He has won 2nd Prize and Young Jury Prize at Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians and has won Denis Matsuev Prize at Grand Piano Competition. Jiwon has performed with Salzburg Chamber Soloists, State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia “Evgeny Svetlanov”, KBS Symphony Orchestra to name a few and worked with leading conductors such as Antoni Wit, Massimo Zanetti, Alexander Sladkovsky and many others. Jiwon has performed at Le Festival International de Musique de Dinard, Music in Pyeongchang and many other leading festivals and performed in leading concert halls such as Gasteig, Grand Hall of Moscow Conservatory, L’Auditori, Seoul Arts Center and many other venues.

[Program]
First Round
• B. Bartók Suite, Op.14
• F. Liszt Après une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi Sonata, S 161 No.7

Second Round
• R. Schumann Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op.26
• L. v. Beethoven Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op.57

Semifinal Round
• Texu Kim Pansori Fantasy(2024)
• C. Debussy Images, Book II
• S. Rachmaninoff Études-Tableaux, Op.39

Final Round
• J. Brahms Concerto No.1 in D minor, Op.15

Nationality Korea
Age 24

Born in Korea, Seongwoo Moon began his musical studies at the age of 5 and made his orchestral debut when he was 12, performing the Chopin Piano Concerto No.1 with the Pohang Philharmonic Orchestra. Most recently, he was the winner of the New England Conservatory Concerto Competition, the Taipei International Maestro Piano Festival’s Promising Star Competition, and 3rd prize at the Hilton Head International Piano Competition. Also, He was the 2nd prize winner at the Singapore Youth International Piano Competition. In addition to numerous recitals and concerts in Seoul, Seongwoo has appeared at many professional venues including Lotte Concert Hall, Kumho Art Hall Yonsei, Sejong Arts Center Chamber Hall. He has also performed in Korea with leading orchestras such as Seongnam Philharmonic Orchestra, Gyeongbuk Philharmonic Orchestra, New World Philharmonic Orchestra and SNU Virtuosi ensemble. Seongwoo is currently pursuing the Master of Music degree at New England Conservatory under the tutelage of Minsoo Sohn. He studied previously at Seoul Arts High School with Seunghye Choi and with Heesung Joo at the Seoul National University, receiving a scholarship from the Samick Cultural Foundation and the Jung-Joo Oh Scholarship awarded to a gifted pianist at the Seoul National University.

[Program]
First Round
• R. Schumann Abegg Variations, Op.1
• A. Scriabin Sonata No.3 in F-sharp minor, Op.23

Second Round
• I. Stravinsky The Firebird suite(arr by. G. Agosti)
• F. Chopin Polonaise Fantasy in A-flat major, Op.61
• L. v. Beethoven Sonata No.28 in A major, Op.101

Semifinal Round
• J. S. Bach Partita No.4 in D major, BWV 828
• Texu Kim Pansori Fantasy(2024)
• F. Schubert – F. Liszt Soirées de Vienne: Valse Caprice No.6, S.427
• S. Prokofiev Sonata No.6 in A major, Op.82

Final Round
• S. Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op.18

Nationality Korea
Age 24

Jaesung Bae, a pianist, studied under Prof. Minsoo Sohn and graduated at the top of his class from the Korea National University of Arts. He made his debut through the Kumho Young Artist Concert and has performed on stage at regular concerts hosted by Sunhwa Arts Middle and High Schools. He has collaborated with renowned orchestras such as the KBS Symphony Orchestra and the Seocho Symphony Orchestra. His notable performances include the 25th anniversary concert of the Korea National University of Arts, featuring a Piano Orchestra Concert, and the Beethoven Piano Sonata Complete Series “Strum und Drang.” Recently, he gained international recognition by reaching the semifinal of the Geneva International Piano Competition and has performed Beethoven’s complete symphonies on two pianos in a single day. He continues to actively perform at venues such as the Seoul Arts Center, Kumho Art Hall, Shinhan Art Hall, International Art Hall, The House Concert, Ham-an Cultural Center, and Busan GMC.

[Program]
First Round
• R. Schumann Abegg Variations, Op.1
• A. Scriabin Sonata No.3 in F-sharp minor, Op.23

Second Round
• I. Stravinsky The Firebird suite(arr by. G. Agosti)
• F. Chopin Polonaise Fantasy in A-flat major, Op.61
• L. v. Beethoven Sonata No.28 in A major, Op.101

Semifinal Round
• J. S. Bach Partita No.4 in D major, BWV 828
• Texu Kim Pansori Fantasy(2024)
• F. Schubert – F. Liszt Soirées de Vienne: Valse Caprice No.6, S.427
• S. Prokofiev Sonata No.6 in A major, Op.82

Final Round
• S. Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op.18

Nationality Korea
Age 20

Dong-Ju Kim made his classical music debut through the Kumho Young Artist Concert. In the first half of this year, he won 1st Prize at JoongAng Music Concours. Notably recognized for his profound musicality on domestic stages, he began garnering attention during his first year of high school by winning 1st Prize in the Ewha&Kyunghyang Concours at 2020. This was followed by 2nd Prize at the 2021 Busan Piano Competition, 1st Prize at the Dong-A Music Competition, and the silver prize in the KBS-KEPCO Music Competition, showcasing consistent success. Additionally, he passed the Kumho Young Artist Concert audition in the first half of last year. Dong-Ju Kim graduated as the top student from Sunhwa Arts Middle School and Sunhwa Arts High School. He entered Seoul National University in 2023, where he is currently a second-year student. He is currently under the guidance of Prof. Aviram Reichert and was previously mentored by Prof. Jinwoo Park.

[Program]
First Round
• S. Rachmaninoff Études-Tableaux, Op.39 No.5
• S. Rachmaninoff Sonata No.2 in B-flat minor, Op.36(1931)

Second Round
• D. Scarlatti Sonata in C-sharp minor, K.247
• A. Scriabin Sonata No.3 in F-sharp minor, Op.23
• L. v. Beethoven Sonata No.31 in A-flat major, Op.110

Semifinal Round
• J. Haydn Sonata in D major, Hob.XVI:42
• F. Chopin Scherzo No.3 in C-sharp minor, Op.39
• Texu Kim Pansori Fantasy(2024)
• M. Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition

Final Round
• S. Rachmaninoff Concerto No.3 in D minor, Op.30