Yekwon Sunwoo
Piano
Yekwon Sunwoo has been hailed for his “unfailingly consistent excellence” (International Piano) and celebrated as “a pianist who commands a comprehensive technical arsenal that allows him to thunder without breaking a sweat” (Chicago Tribune). A powerful and virtuosic performer, he strives to reach for the truth and pure beauty in music.
The first Korean gold medalist of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Yekwon’s 24/25 season included appearances with Ann Arbor Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, as well as recitals at Bechstein Hall and Carnegie Hall. In previous seasons, he has performed as a soloist with the Munich Philharmonic and Valery Gergiev, Washington Chamber Orchestra, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Collaborations included Clara Jumi Kang, Sebastian Bohren, lsang Enders, Tobias Feldmann, and Gary HoAman.
He has also toured Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Panama with the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation and appeared in recitals around Japan and at the Hong Kong Arts Festival.
In addition to the Cliburn Gold Medal, Yekwon has won first prizes at the 2015 International German Piano Award, the 2014 Vendome Prize held at the Verbier Festival, the 2013 Sendai International Music Competition, and the 2012 William Kapell International Piano Competition.
Born in Anyang, South Korea, Yekwon began learning the piano at the age of 8 and made his recital and orchestral debuts in Seoul at 15. His teachers include Seymour Lipkin, Robert McDonald, Richard Goode, and Bernd Goetzke.
In September 2023, Yekwon released his second album for Decca’s Universal Music Korea label, featuring works by Rachmaninov following his 2020 album of works by Mozart. In 2017, Decca Gold released Cliburn Gold 2017: 15th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, which includes Yekwon’s award-winning performances of Ravel’s La Valse and Rachmaninov’s second Piano Sonata.