Van Cliburn Gold Medal Winner: Yekwon Sunwoo
2:00 PM
Sunday,
February 25, 2018
Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, SJU
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They have trained their whole lives. In June 2017, exceptional rising stars displayed technical mastery and deep passion as they competde to be the world’s finest young pianist. Widely recognized as the world’s most important, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition brings together 30 competitors (ages 18-30) from 16 different nations once every four years, and is dedicated to the discovery of the finest players in the world .
This performance will feature the recently announced gold medal winner – Yekwon Sunwoo!
Gold medalist of the Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, 28-year-old pianist Yekwon Sunwoo has been hailed for “his total command over the instrument and its expressiveness” (San Francisco Examiner). A powerful and virtuosic performer, he also, in his own words, “strives to reach for the truth and pure beauty in music,” and hopes to convey those fundamental emotions to audiences.
Born in Anyang, South Korea, Mr. Sunwoo began learning piano at age 8. He gave both his recital and orchestra debuts in 2004 in Seoul before moving to the United States in 2005 to study with Seymour Lipkin at the Curtis Institute of Music. He earned his bachelor’s degree there, his master’s at The Juilliard School with Robert McDonald, and his artist diploma at the Mannes School of Music with Richard Goode. He currently studies under Bernd Goetzke in Hannover. Mr. Sunwoo credits each for their guidance in his artistic development and approach, and honored the late Mr. Lipkin by performing his cadenza during his Semifinal Round performance of the Mozart Piano Concerto in C Major, K. 467.
