Ruth Jean Gurwitz
Jongyun Kim
As a native of Iksan, a small town in Jeolla Province of South Korea, Jong Yun Kim began playing the piano at age five. At age twelve, he first drew public's attention by entering in Yewon School, one of the most prestigious music institutions for young people in Korea, at the top of the class. In the same year, Mr. Kim made his debut at the Young People's Music Festival in Seoul. In 2006, he enrolled in Seoul Arts High school and was admitted to the Korea National University of Arts for the Gifted in Arts in the following year.
During his school years, Jong Yun Kim won numerous competitions in Korea, including second prize in the Bechstein-Samik Piano Competition in 2004, first prize of the Ewha-Kyunghyang Music Competition in 2006 and first prize of the Joongang Music Concours in 2008.
Internationally, Jong Yun Kim was awarded third place in the Asia Pacific Young Artists Competition in 2007. In 2009, he established himself in Europe by winning the second prize at the 55th Maria Canals International Music Competition, where he was also awarded as the Best Contemporary Music Performer, the Best Spanish Music Performer and the Youngest Performer of the Year. In 2014, he was awarded the second prize at the 10th Seoul International Competition.
Ever since he gave his first solo recital at Kumho Art Hall for the Kumho Prodigy Concert Series in 2005, Mr. Kim has appeared as recitalist and chamber musician at various venues including Yamaha Rising Star Series, Yamaha Young Artist Concert, Euro Music Festival in Leipzig, Tong-Il Han Piano Institute Music Festival Yeoneum Piano Academy Music Festival and Palau de la Musica in Barcelona . In 2010 and 2011, he was invited by the Chopin Society and gave concert at the Moscow Recital Hall in Russia and Auditorium of Conservatory Shanghái in China. He also appeared as a soloist with Pohang Symphony Orchestra .
Mr. Kim earned his bachelor's degree at the Korea University of Arts, where he studied with Choong-Mo Kang and studied with Fabio Bidini for Master degree at the Hochule fur Musik "Hanns Eisler" Berlin in Germany. Currently, Jongyun Kim is pursuing his PSC Diploma at the Colburn school where he studies with Fabio Bidini.