Minji Kim
Cellist Minji Kim has received first prize in many of Korean national competitions, such as Dong-A Music Competition, Joongang Music Competition, and Nan-Pa Music Competition. Kim was the only Korean to be invited to perform and to receive scholarship from the Emanuel Feuermann International Cello Competition and took 2nd place at the Premio arturo Bonucci International Cello Competition, grand prix at the Hudson Valley String Competition, New England conservatory String Competition, and HAMS International Cello Competition. She also received 1st prize and the special award for commissioned work for Irving M Klein International String Competition, and a semifinalist at the Rostropovich Cello Competition and Naumberg Competition. Kim used Jean Baptiste Vuillaume cello on loan from the instrument bank of Ravinia Festival Stean’s institute and she was assistant principal of Orchestra Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Spain under Lorin Mazzel. Currently, she is an active member of the Kumho Asiana Soloists and ensemble OPUS, moreover she is a principal at the Cellista Cello ensemble and professor at Kye Myung University in Korea.
Kowoon Yang
Kowoon Yang, appreciated as a creative violinist in Korea with her sensitive playing and poetic expression, won many prizes and awards including Max Rostal International Violin Competition, Lipizer International Violin Competition, Paganini International Violin Competition, and Tibor Varga International Competition. She has been performing worldwide with many famous orchestras including Moscow Philharmonic, München Symphoniker, Beijing Central Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Wien Concert Ferrein Orchestra, Praha Radio Symphony, and others. She was also invited to play at Wigmore Hall, Bregenz Festival, Seoul Spring Festival, Japan Culture Day in Hokkaido, and series of concerts at Seoul Arts Center. Kowoon received Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston under the guidance of James Buswell, and graduated “Meisterklasse” course in Hochschule für Musik in München. She has been a member of Tonus Piano Trio since the year 2000, and also a professor at Kyung Hee University in Korea. She was recently invited as a jury member for the Young Tchaikovsky International Competition.