Biography
“a refined, probing artist… a thought-through, fully realized interpretation, the kind you’d expect from a veteran of the recital circuit.”
- Bachtrack Magazine
"A remarkably sophisticated technique with incredibly detailed articulation and miniature values - she deserves words of admiration"
- Opera Slovakia
The Korean pianist Su Yeon Kim achieved international acclaim when she won the First Prize at the Concours musical international de Montréal in 2021, after winning the second prize at the Mozart International Competition Salzburg 2020 and Hastings International Piano 2018.
Her recent debut appearance with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal under Maestro Osmo Vänskä in October 2022 marked the turning point in her career, after giving concerts in numerous prestigious venues throughout the world, such as Herkulessaal Munich, Teatro alla Scala Milan, Franz Liszt Hall Budapest, Großer Saal Stiftung Mozarteum Salzburg, Salle Cortot Paris, Kennedy Center Washington D.C., Hamarikyu Asahi Hall Tokyo and Seoul Arts Center, among others.
Across the latest 22/23 season, she gave recitals at Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, NDR Hannover, Düsseldorf Schumann Saal, presented by the Steinway Prizewinner Concerts Network, at Canadian Opera Company Toronto and was invited to the Engadin Festival St. Moritz and the Festival Musiq3 Brussels, where she made the highly praised debut performance with Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra for its closing concert. Also in her native Korea, she has regularly performed in Seoul as the Artist-in-Residence of Kumho Art Hall, including recitals and chamber concerts. Highlights of the coming season 23/24 includes concerts in Vienna Konzerthaus and in Seoul with Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra under Jaap van Zweden.
Her first album, <Mozart Recital> has released on the Steinway & Sons Label in July 2023. Presented as “One to Watch” by Gramophone Magazine and Critics' choice by Diapason as well as International Piano Magazine, her performance is described as having ‘expert finger legato and a sense of air between phrases that is easier to hear than to explain’ (Jed Diestler), 'a luminous vivacity, with a delicate singing tone' (Bertrand Boissard).
Su Yeon Kim has performed as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre de Chambre de Wallonie, the Slovak Philharmonic, Orchestra dell'Accademia Teatro alla Scala, Salzburg Orchestra Soloists, Mozarteum Sinfonieorchester and Krakow Philharmonic. With her interest and desire to learn the art of conducting an orchestra from keyboard became reality when the Steinway Prizewinner Concerts Network invited her to the Paris Play-Direct Academy of the Orchestre de chambre de Paris which culminated in a performance at Philharmonie de Paris.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Su Yeon Kim received her first piano lessons at age 5. After moving to Salzburg at age 19, she completed her study with Pavel Gililov at the University Mozarteum Salzburg and also has been mentored by Paul Gulda. From 2023, she is studying with Éric Le Sage at Musikhochschule Freiburg. Throughout her studies, She has received valuable inspiration from renowned musicians from masterclasses such as Alfred Brendel, Sir András Schiff, Maria João Pires, Jacques Rouvier and Robert Levin.