Conductor Seokwon Hong

Conductor Seokwon Hong, the 13th Artistic Director of Gwangju Symphony Orchestra as of April 2021, was the first Korean to be appointed as the principal conductor (Erste Kappelmesiter) of an Opera Theater in Austria. Hong is actively conducting operas, ballets, symphonies, and modern classical music throughout Europe and Asia. Hong was selected as the 'Future Maestro' from the German Music Association and has won 3rd prize at the 100th anniversary Karajan conducting competition. He has had great success conducting world-renowned orchestras such as: Berlin Deutsch Symphony Orchestra, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven Orchestra Bonn.

Horn Radek Baborak

Radek Baborák, is one of the most distinctive musical personalities on the international classical music scene. Since his solo debut in 1989, he has collaborated with many world orchestras (Berlin Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonics, Mito Chamber Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic orchestra, NHK Tokyo, etc) and top conductors (Daniel Barenboim, Simon Rattle, Seiji Ozawa, James Levine, Neeme Järvi). After 8 years as a principal hornist of Berlin Philharmonic and enriched with a lot of experience in chamber music and solo performances, in 2008 he started to pursue a career as a conductor.

Soprano Yeree Suh

Mezzo Soprano Jungmi Kim

Mezzo soprano Kim Jung-mi acquired Diplom from the Italian Cenna Cigiana Academy and graduated from the National Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy.

She won several international competitions, including No. 2 at the 30th Central Competition, No. 1 and Special Award at the Alcamo International Competition, and No. 2 at the 64th Geneva International Competition in Switzerland, imprinted her name on the European stage. He continues to be active as concert artists such as orchestra Mozart [Liquiem], Handel [Messia], and French Metz Orchestra Mozart [Cminor Misa] and is also striving to train juniors as adjunct professors at Kookmin University.

Tenor Oliver Kook

Tenor Oliver Kook, who interprets music intelligently and has a variety of colors, graduated Yonsei University with a BA in voice. He finished his postgradual studium at the University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Kook won the prestigious Geneva International Music competition and the Marseille International Opera Competition. He was also invited to perform with an orchestra at the Carnegie Hall in New York, Wiener Konzerthaus, The Hermitage Theatre in Russia, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, and the Suntory Hall. Kook traveled the world and continued to build his flourishing reputation as a opera singer. He performed at the Theater Regensburg as the role of Pollione from Norma by Bellini, which was a successful debut.

Bass Thomas E. Bauer

Critics and audiences around the world agree: Thomas E. Bauer is one of the most fascinating vocal artists of our time. Reviewers of his numerous orchestral concerts rave about the “sheer virile force” that comes with “an unsusually precise diction, emotional intensity and rare beauty in his baritonal sound” (Opernglas). As a concert vocalist, Mr. Bauer made recent guest appearances at Beethovenfest Bonn, singing Beethoven’s cycle An die ferne Geliebte, with the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, at the Musik Podium Festival in Stuttgart in Mendelssohn’s Paulus, with Chorwerk Ruhr, Ensemble Pygmalion, and Anima Eterna. He has sung several world ,premières of operas, and was awarded the prestigious Schneider-Schott Music Prize.

SIMF Orchestra

Seoul International Music Festival Orchestra is a Symphony Orchestra that brings together soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestra members to take part of Seoul International Music Festival. For the Seoul International Music Festival in 2010, the SIMF Orchestra was composed of talented Korean musicians and French woodwind players under the direction of Grzegorz Nowak, the permanent associate conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
SIMF orchestra is highly acclaimed for its various musical attempts and for creating successful artistic outcomes through valuable exchange programs between talented artists. And SIMF orchestra goes on and on.

SIMF Choir

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Cello Gary Hoffman

Gary Hoffman is one of the outstanding cellists of our time, combining instrumental mastery, great beauty of sound, and a poetic sensibility in his distinctive and memorable performances. Mr. Hoffman gained international renown upon his victory as the first North American to win the Rostropovich International Competition in Paris in 1986. A frequent soloist with the world's most noted orchestras, he has appeared with the Chicago, London, Montreal, Toronto, San mFrancisco, Baltimore and National symphony orchestras as well as the English, Moscow and Los Angeles chamber orchestras, the Orchestre National de France, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and the Netherlands and Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra for the Blossom Festival and Philadelphia Orchestra, among many others. He is the guest of main halls such as the Théâtre du Châtelet, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Kennedy Center, and numerous festivals: Ravinia, La Jolla, Schleswig Holstein, Verbier, Festival International de Colmar, Evian, Prades Festival, Honk Kong International Chamber Music Festival, Vancouver, Storioni, … etc.

Piano Ilya Rashkovisky

Russian pianist Ilya Rashkovski is one of the most promising next-generation pianists who has been active after winning the world's leading competitions, including the first place at the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition, the second place at the Longtibo Crespin Competition, the third place at the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition and the fourth place at the Queen Elizabeth Competition, and he is recognized on the major stage of the world, captivating audiences with his technique and rich expression of emotions. He is also actively engaged in fostering younger talents and has given master classes on several occasions in Hong Kong, New Zealand and France. Currently, he is teaching at Sungshin Women’s University in Korea.

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Quartet Charmant String Quartet

String Quartet “Charmant”, charming in English, aims to express the spirit of the four young musicians pursuing the most convincing harmonies.
All the members, the 1st Violinist Hye-jin Kim, the 2nd violinist Jee-in Kim, Violist Jeoung-woo Sim, and Cellist Si-eun Park, are currently studying in Seoul National University. Since forming in June 2021, it passed the most prestigious auditions in Korea such as Kumho Young Artist Audition and Rihan Rising Star Audiiton. It also won the grand priz in the Chamber Music category of the Kwon Hyuk-joo Competition. The Charmant Quartet, performing with high degree of sensitivity, seeks to deliver the most charming sound after thorough research of composers and the time the works are based on. But, most of all, it wishes to express from love to anger, and from naughty boy to generous gentleman. The Charmant is scheduled to play at the Haydn Hall in Vienna and in Changwon International Chamber Music Festival in November 2022 and at Kumho Art Hall in May 2023.

Viola Sang Jin Kim

Critically acclaimed violist Sang-Jin Kim has won several solo and chamber music competitions internationally. He was invited to the Marlboro, Aspen and Musicmountain, Rheingau, Villa Musica and Mach-art, Prague Spring, Cervo festivals and the international Musician's Seminar at Prussia Cove. A former member of the International Sejong Soloists and Kumho Asiana String Quartet, Sang-Jin is frequently invited as soloist with major symphony orchestras in Korea. Upon receiving the Presidential Award in 2001, a highest civilian award in Korea, he was subsequently designated as an Embassador of Culture in honor of his achievements. Since then, he performed in many parts of the world including Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Southern Asia in fulfillment of this duty. He is now a professor of viola performance at the Yonsei University in Seoul.

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Flute Chaiwon Ra

Oboe Sebastian Alexksandrowicz

Sebastian Aleksandrowicz graduated of the Frederic Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in the studio of Professor Stanistaw Malinowski and Tytus Wojnowicz. Since 1996, soloist of the orchestra of Teatr Wielki Opera Narodowa in Warsaw, principal oboist of Polish Radio Orchestra in 2000-2003, principal oboist of Warsaw Philharmonic in 2005-2007 and principal oboist of soloist of NFM Wroctaw Philharmonic in 2007-2014. Also, he is a Professor of XVI Festival Ensemble of Princess Daisy at International Chamber Music Festival ‘Muzyka na szczytach‘.

Oboe Yijea Han

Clarinet Jae-il Chae

Clarinetist Jerry Jae-il Chae - 1st prize winner of the 15th international clarinet competition “Ciudad de Dos Hermanas” in Spain and special prize winner of Concours de Genève in Switzerland - is the clarinet professor of Korea National University of Arts. Previously he held positions of principal clarinetist of Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and principal clarinetist of Los Angeles Opera Orchestra. An active chamber musician, Mr. Chae joined the Marlboro Music Festival and performed as a member of the KumHo Chamber Music Society, Seoul Spring Festival, and the Great Mountain Festival in Korea.

Bassoon Seunghoon Baik

Bassoonist Seunghoon Baik won the first prize at the Music Association of Korea Competition, the third prize at the Dong-A Music Competition, the second prize at the Busan Music Competition, and the Espoir prize at the Osaka Music Competition in japan. In Germany, she has performed with the Staatstheater Augsburg as a academy member and Kurpfälzisches Kammerorchester, Kammerphilharmonie Mannheim, Heidelberg Kantaten Orchester as a guest. She is now the principal bassoonist of the Hankyung Arte Philharmonic Orchestra.

Horn Yu-Hui Chuang

Yu-Hui Chuang, native of Taipei, began his professional career in Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin under Chef Conductor “Ivan Fischer” in 2013; and became an instructor in C.P.E. Bach Gynasium in 2014 and Hochschule für Musik “Hanns-Eisler” for the Horn Class of Prof. Marie-Luise Neunecker in 2015. As a soloist, Mr. Chuang has performed in Berlin Philharmonie with Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin, in Auditorium Maximum with Filarmonica Transilvania and in Natianoal Concerthall in Taipei with several Orchestras. He has also given numerous chamber music concerts in Asia and Europe. Mr. Chuang was awarded 1st Prize in the National French Horn Competition in Taiwan three times and 1st Prize in the 5th OSAKA International Music Competition in Japan 2005

Horn Radek Baborák

Radek Baborák, is one of the most distinctive musical personalities on the international classical music scene. Since his solo debut in 1989, he has collaborated with many world orchestras (Berlin Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonics, Mito Chamber Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic orchestra, NHK Tokyo, etc) and top conductors (Daniel Barenboim, Simon Rattle, Seiji Ozawa, James Levine, Neeme Järvi). After 8 years as a principal hornist of Berlin Philharmonic and enriched with a lot of experience in chamber music and solo performances, in 2008 he started to pursue a career as a conductor.

Violin So-Ock Kim

Born in Seoul in 1982, So-Ock Kim moved to London at the age of three. At 15, she was the youngest ever winner of the gold medal in the prestigious Shell/LSO Competition playing the Tchaikovsky concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra in the Barbican Hall. At 19, So-Ock was selected for the Young Concert Artists Trust. So-Ock has a keen interest in the performance of new works and has given several World Premieres that have been recorded for Universal (France and Korea) and Naxos. She is also an active chamber musician and Professor of Violin at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Violin Jakub Haufa

Concertmaster of the Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra, associate professor at the Academy of Music in Poznań. He graduated the violin class of prof. Jadwiga Kaliszewska, a versatile violinist with extensive record and concert achievements. Winner, among others distinctions in the finals of the 12th International Violin Competition Henryka Wieniawskiego in 2001. In the coming season 2018/19 there will be, among others: as a guest concertmaster of such orchestras as the Malta Philharmonic, KBS Symphony Orchestra in Seoul. He will also perform as a soloist and chamber musician among others with musicians like Daniel Hope, during the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival.

Violin Dami Kim

Violin Jiwon Song

Korean violinist Ji Won Song delights audiences worldwide with energetic and engaging performances that express her refined perspectives on melody, color and harmony, as well as her deep passion for her instrument. A versatile soloist and chamber musician, she is sought after for her creative approach, vivid sound, and multi-faceted interpretations of classical and contemporary repertoire. In addition to the 2017 Isang Yun International Violin Competition (Tongyeong, Korea), she is the recipient of numerous first prizes, including first prize and audience prize at the 2016 Leopold Mozart Competition.

Viola Hartmut Rohde

Violist and conductor Hartmut Rohde delights the audience with his tone and musical language as well as his special commitment to the respective style. Rohde is one of the leading European violists and a founding member of the Mozart Piano Quartet, with which he received the coveted OPUS Klassik Award for the first time in 2018. As a conductor, Rohde is touring with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra and the Seoul Virtuosi to Germany and Korea. Hartmut Rohde has been a professor at the UdK Berlin since 1993 and is an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music London. He plays a viola by Giuseppe Fiorini (1899) and an Ivo Luliano (2016).

Viola Hanna Lee

Violist Hanna Lee is one of the most spotlighted violinists of the generation. Hanna Lee has been invited to world-renown festivals such as Lavinia, Verbier, and Marlboro to play with famous musicians, including Kim Kashkashian, Colin Carr, Lucy Chapman and Charles Neidich. She was named “Young Artists to Lead the Next Generation” by Monthly Auditorium in 2015. She won the first prize at the New England Conservatory Concerto Competition, and also won at various international competitions, including International Young Artists’ Competition, Hellam Young Artists’ Competition and Osaka International Music Competition. She is also teaching at the Korea National University of Arts Academy of Gifted, Yonsei University, Yewon School, Seoul Arts Highschool, Sunhwa Arts Middle and Highschool.

Viola Hayang Park

Even in her early years, Hayang Park won a variety of national and international prizes. At twelve years old she won the Concours International de musique et d'art dramatique Léopold Bellan. In 2017 she took third prize in the string section of the 15th Tokyo Music Competition, and performed Hindemith’s viola concerto “Der Schwanendreher” (The Swan Turner) together with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. She has also won numerous prizes in her native Korea, including the Chun-chu Music Competition and the Seoul National Philharmonic Competition. Since October 2021, she has been studying at Kronberg Academy with Nobuko Imai. Her studies are funded by the Ulla Minners/Lore Buscher scholarship.

Viola Sang Jin Kim

Critically acclaimed violist Sang-Jin Kim has won several solo and chamber music competitions internationally. He was invited to the Marlboro, Aspen and Musicmountain, Rheingau, Villa Musica and Mach-art, Prague Spring, Cervo festivals and the international Musician's Seminar at Prussia Cove. A former member of the International Sejong Soloists and Kumho Asiana String Quartet, Sang-Jin is frequently invited as soloist with major symphony orchestras in Korea. Upon receiving the Presidential Award in 2001, a highest civilian award in Korea, he was subsequently designated as an Embassador of Culture in honor of his achievements. Since then, he performed in many parts of the world including Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Southern Asia in fulfillment of this duty. He is now a professor of viola performance at the Yonsei University in Seoul.

Cello Kyungjun Lee

Mr. Lee is the top-prize winner of many major music competitions, such as the 1st prize Klaipeda International Cello Competition, After winning the competition, he was appointed as a jury member of the 'David Geringas' International Cello Competition And as part of a special award given by the Pablo Casals Foundation in Spain, he is scheduled to perform the invitation of the Pablo Casals Museum and record work. Also he won the the 1st prize 'Young Virtuoso International Competition' in Bulgaria and 2nd prize Karl Davidoff International Cello Competition. Mr. Lee is currently active in many solo and chamber music performances in Korea, Norway, and Germany.

Cello Gary Hoffman

Gary Hoffman is one of the outstanding cellists of our time, combining instrumental mastery, great beauty of sound, and a poetic sensibility in his distinctive and memorable performances. Mr. Hoffman gained international renown upon his victory as the first North American to win the Rostropovich International Competition in Paris in 1986. A frequent soloist with the world's most noted orchestras, he has appeared with the Chicago, London, Montreal, Toronto, San mFrancisco, Baltimore and National symphony orchestras as well as the English, Moscow and Los Angeles chamber orchestras, the Orchestre National de France, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and the Netherlands and Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra for the Blossom Festival and Philadelphia Orchestra, among many others. He is the guest of main halls such as the Théâtre du Châtelet, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Kennedy Center, and numerous festivals: Ravinia, La Jolla, Schleswig Holstein, Verbier, Festival International de Colmar, Evian, Prades Festival, Honk Kong International Chamber Music Festival, Vancouver, Storioni, … etc.

Cello Minji Kim

Cellist Minji Kim won the first prize at the Korean Internarional Music Foundation Competition in Los Angeles. She also received first prize and the special award for commissioned work for Irving M Klein International String Competition and she was a semi-finalist at the Rostropovich Cello Competition and Naumberg competition. She was assistant principal of Orchestra Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Spain under Lorin Mazzel, principal of Seoul Art Center Festival Orchestra and the professor at Keimyung University. Currently, she is an active member of Kumho Asiana Soloist, Cellista Cello Ensemble and the professor at Seoul National University since 2018

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Baritone Thomas E. Bauer

Critics and audiences around the world agree: Thomas E. Bauer is one of the most fascinating vocal artists of our time. Reviewers of his numerous orchestral concerts rave about the “sheer virile force” that comes with “an unsusually precise diction, emotional intensity and rare beauty in his baritonal sound” (Opernglas). As a concert vocalist, Mr. Bauer made recent guest appearances at Beethovenfest Bonn, singing Beethoven’s cycle An die ferne Geliebte, with the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, at the Musik Podium Festival in Stuttgart in Mendelssohn’s Paulus, with Chorwerk Ruhr, Ensemble Pygmalion, and Anima Eterna. He has sung several world ,premières of operas, and was awarded the prestigious Schneider-Schott Music Prize.

Piano Donald Sulzen

Donald Sulzen is one of the few pianists who have attained highest international recognition in two realms of classical music. Not only is he a collaborator with some of the worlds most celebrated singers, such as Anna Caterina Antonacci, Laura Aikin, Doris Soffel, Thomas E. Bauer, Thomas Cooley and James Taylor, but is also the pianist of the renowned Munich Piano Trio. After teaching for several years at the Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst “Mozarteum” in Salzburg, he accepted a professorship for the instruction of song duos at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich, where he presently resides. Donald Sulzen’s passion to combine the musicians of his trio with his vocal artists is revealed through unique CD recordings involving works of Joseph Haydn, Alberto Ginastera, Ned Rorem and Astor Piazzolla.

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Flute Chaeyeon You

Flutist Chaeyeon You has won the 1st prize at the 71st Prague Spring International Music Competition and Vienna New Year's Concert International Music Competition. She also won awards at various competitions such as KBS KEPCO Music Concours, Ewha kyunghyang Music Competition, Korea Herald Music Competition, Haeum Philharmonic Orchestra Competition, and Seoul National University Musical Instrument Practice Competition. She has appeared as a concerto soloist with the KBS Symphony Orchestra, KNUA Wind Orchestra, Daegu Philharmonic Orchestra and the Changwon Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Violin So-Ock Kim

Born in Seoul in 1982, So-Ock Kim moved to London at the age of three. At 15, she was the youngest ever winner of the gold medal in the prestigious Shell/LSO Competition playing the Tchaikovsky concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra in the Barbican Hall. At 19, So-Ock was selected for the Young Concert Artists Trust. So-Ock has a keen interest in the performance of new works and has given several World Premieres that have been recorded for Universal (France and Korea) and Naxos. She is also an active chamber musician and Professor of Violin at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Violin Ju-young Baek 

Lauded by Krzysztof Penderecki as the “next Goddess of Violin,” violinist Ju-Young Baek made national headlines in Korea with her appointment as the youngest faculty member of the prestigious Seoul National University. The recipient of numerous awards, Ju-Young Baek was a laureate at the Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition, Bronze Medalist at the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis with four special prizes, top prize winner at International Paganini, Sibelius, Long-Thibaud, and Seoul International Violin Competitions.

Violin Jiwon Song

Korean violinist Ji Won Song delights audiences worldwide with energetic and engaging performances that express her refined perspectives on melody, color and harmony, as well as her deep passion for her instrument. A versatile soloist and chamber musician, she is sought after for her creative approach, vivid sound, and multi-faceted interpretations of classical and contemporary repertoire. In addition to the 2017 Isang Yun International Violin Competition (Tongyeong, Korea), she is the recipient of numerous first prizes, including first prize and audience prize at the 2016 Leopold Mozart Competition.

Viola Hartmut Rohde

Violist and conductor Hartmut Rohde delights the audience with his tone and musical language as well as his special commitment to the respective style. Rohde is one of the leading European violists and a founding member of the Mozart Piano Quartet, with which he received the coveted OPUS Klassik Award for the first time in 2018. As a conductor, Rohde is touring with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra and the Seoul Virtuosi to Germany and Korea. Hartmut Rohde has been a professor at the UdK Berlin since 1993 and is an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music London. He plays a viola by Giuseppe Fiorini (1899) and an Ivo Luliano (2016).

Viola Sang Jin Kim

Critically acclaimed violist Sang-Jin Kim has won several solo and chamber music competitions internationally. He was invited to the Marlboro, Aspen and Musicmountain, Rheingau, Villa Musica and Mach-art, Prague Spring, Cervo festivals and the international Musician's Seminar at Prussia Cove. A former member of the International Sejong Soloists and Kumho Asiana String Quartet, Sang-Jin is frequently invited as soloist with major symphony orchestras in Korea. Upon receiving the Presidential Award in 2001, a highest civilian award in Korea, he was subsequently designated as an Embassador of Culture in honor of his achievements. Since then, he performed in many parts of the world including Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Southern Asia in fulfillment of this duty. He is now a professor of viola performance at the Yonsei University in Seoul.

Cello Jungran Lee

Since giving her debut concert at the age of 11 with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, her performances with orchestras include Baden-Baden Philharmonie Orchestra, Sinfonia Finlandia, l'Orquesta d'Andalucia, l'Orchestre des Lauréats du Conservatoire, Korean Symphony, Baroque Chamber Ensemble among others. Jung-ran Lee has served as associate principal player at the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (with conductor Myung-Whun Chung) from 2007 to 2014. She currently appears as soloist as well as an active chamber musician in Trio Jade and Kumho Asiana Soloists. As a member of Trio Jade she awarded 3rd Prize of Schubert International Chamber Music Competition and 3rd Prize of Trondheim International Music Competition. Ms. Lee also teaches at the Seoul National University and Yonsei University.

Cello Gary Hoffman

Gary Hoffman is one of the outstanding cellists of our time, combining instrumental mastery, great beauty of sound, and a poetic sensibility in his distinctive and memorable performances. Mr. Hoffman gained international renown upon his victory as the first North American to win the Rostropovich International Competition in Paris in 1986. A frequent soloist with the world's most noted orchestras, he has appeared with the Chicago, London, Montreal, Toronto, San mFrancisco, Baltimore and National symphony orchestras as well as the English, Moscow and Los Angeles chamber orchestras, the Orchestre National de France, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and the Netherlands and Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra for the Blossom Festival and Philadelphia Orchestra, among many others. He is the guest of main halls such as the Théâtre du Châtelet, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Kennedy Center, and numerous festivals: Ravinia, La Jolla, Schleswig Holstein, Verbier, Festival International de Colmar, Evian, Prades Festival, Honk Kong International Chamber Music Festival, Vancouver, Storioni, … etc.

Harp Jiin Kim

Harpist Jiin Kim got the 3rd prize in professional division at the Soka International Harp Competition in 2005 and won the 1st prize at Seoul National University Music Competition, the Journal of Music Competition. She has performed with major orchestras and ensembles including Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra, the Great Mountain Music Festival Orchestra, Asia Philharmonic Orchestra, Tongyeong International Music Festival Orchestra. Not only she is in demand with Korean ensembles, Jiin Kim performed International visiting orchestras including Mariinsky Orchestra, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Gyor Philharmonic Orchestra, Music Collegium Winterthur, Cologne Chamber Orchestra.

Piano Kyu Yeon Kim

Kyu Yeon Kim is among the prize winners of the Dublin International Piano Competition (2nd Prize, Concerto Prize, Mozart Prize), Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition (Laureate), Cleveland International Piano Competition (4th Prize, Mozart Prize), Gina Bachauer International Young Artists Piano Competition (1st Prize), Geneva International Music Competition (Special Prize), Missouri Southern International Piano Competition (2nd Prize) and Bartok-Kabalevsky-Prokofiev International Piano Competition (1st Prize). She is a member of Opus Ensemble and a music director of Young Classical Artists Foundation. Currently, she is an assistant professor of piano at Seoul National University.

Piano Ilya Rashkovisky

Russian pianist Ilya Rashkovski is one of the most promising next-generation pianists who has been active after winning the world's leading competitions, including the first place at the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition, the second place at the Longtibo Crespin Competition, the third place at the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition and the fourth place at the Queen Elizabeth Competition, and he is recognized on the major stage of the world, captivating audiences with his technique and rich expression of emotions. He is also actively engaged in fostering younger talents and has given master classes on several occasions in Hong Kong, New Zealand and France. Currently, he is teaching at Sungshin Women’s University in Korea.

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Conductor Seokwon Hong

Conductor Seokwon Hong, the 13th Artistic Director of Gwangju Symphony Orchestra as of April 2021, was the first Korean to be appointed as the principal conductor (Erste Kappelmesiter) of an Opera Theater in Austria. Hong is actively conducting operas, ballets, symphonies, and modern classical music throughout Europe and Asia. Hong was selected as the 'Future Maestro' from the German Music Association and has won 3rd prize at the 100th anniversary Karajan conducting competition. He has had great success conducting world-renowned orchestras such as: Berlin Deutsch Symphony Orchestra, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven Orchestra Bonn.

Soprano Yeree Suh

Oboe Sebastian Alexksandrowicz

Sebastian Aleksandrowicz graduated of the Frederic Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in the studio of Professor Stanistaw Malinowski and Tytus Wojnowicz. Since 1996, soloist of the orchestra of Teatr Wielki Opera Narodowa in Warsaw, principal oboist of Polish Radio Orchestra in 2000-2003, principal oboist of Warsaw Philharmonic in 2005-2007 and principal oboist of soloist of NFM Wroctaw Philharmonic in 2007-2014. Also, he is a Professor of XVI Festival Ensemble of Princess Daisy at International Chamber Music Festival ‘Muzyka na szczytach‘.

Oboe Yijea Han

Clarinet Han Kim

By winning the Second Prize in 68th ARD International Music Competition in Munich, 23-year-old Korean-born clarinetist Han Kim has been recognised around the world as one of the most promising clarinetists in his generation. Alongside the Henle-Urtext Prize, his per-formance of Elliott Carter’s Clarinet Concerto with Münchner Rundfunkorchester in the final round has impressed all the jury members and captivated the audience, which led him to be awarded the Audience Prize in addition. He has already been recognised around the world as the most promising clarinet prodigy for his wondrous and mature playing, since his video clips of first recital were shared through Youtube and capti-vated world-wide audiences over 5 million times. Currently he studies with Sabine Meyer at Musikhochschule Lübeck and is 2nd Solo Clarinettist of Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Clarinet Inn-hyuck Cho

Inn-hyuck Cho, born in South Korea, is principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra since 2016. Prior to joining the Met, he was principal clarinet of the Basel Symphony, and the Musikkollegium Winterthur in Swizerland which is one of the oldest European orchestras. He guest appearanced with many world class orchestras, such as The Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Zurich Tonhalle, Orchestre de Paris, Zurich Philharmonia, Radio France Philharmonic, The Chamber Orchestra of Bavarian Radio, Luzern Symphony, and the Seoul Philharmonic. He currently serves as an assistant professor at the Hanyang University in Korea.

Clarinet Jae-il Chae

Clarinetist Jerry Jae-il Chae - 1st prize winner of the 15th international clarinet competition “Ciudad de Dos Hermanas” in Spain and special prize winner of Concours de Genève in Switzerland - is the clarinet professor of Korea National University of Arts. Previously he held positions of principal clarinetist of Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and principal clarinetist of Los Angeles Opera Orchestra. An active chamber musician, Mr. Chae joined the Marlboro Music Festival and performed as a member of the KumHo Chamber Music Society, Seoul Spring Festival, and the Great Mountain Festival in Korea.

Bassoon Sung Kwon You

Sung Kwon You entered Universität der Künste Berlin at age 17, joined Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin(RSB) as a Principal Bassoonist at age 21, and finally he was appointed as a tenured member after 6 months of joining RSB. Now he is doing his doctoral course at Universität der Künste Berlin and performs actively as a chamber member of RSB Wind quintet, Clumpiest M, East Side Octet.

Bassoon Seunghoon Baik

Bassoonist Seunghoon Baik won the first prize at the Music Association of Korea Competition, the third prize at the Dong-A Music Competition, the second prize at the Busan Music Competition, and the Espoir prize at the Osaka Music Competition in japan. In Germany, she has performed with the Staatstheater Augsburg as a academy member and Kurpfälzisches Kammerorchester, Kammerphilharmonie Mannheim, Heidelberg Kantaten Orchester as a guest. She is now the principal bassoonist of the Hankyung Arte Philharmonic Orchestra.

Horn Radek Baborák

Radek Baborák, is one of the most distinctive musical personalities on the international classical music scene. Since his solo debut in 1989, he has collaborated with many world orchestras (Berlin Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonics, Mito Chamber Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic orchestra, NHK Tokyo, etc) and top conductors (Daniel Barenboim, Simon Rattle, Seiji Ozawa, James Levine, Neeme Järvi). After 8 years as a principal hornist of Berlin Philharmonic and enriched with a lot of experience in chamber music and solo performances, in 2008 he started to pursue a career as a conductor.

Horn Hongpark Kim

Yu-Hui Chuang, native of Taipei, began his professional career in Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin under Chef Conductor “Ivan Fischer” in 2013; and became an instructor in C.P.E. Bach Gynasium in 2014 and Hochschule für Musik “Hanns-Eisler” for the Horn Class of Prof. Marie-Luise Neunecker in 2015. As a soloist, Mr. Chuang has performed in Berlin Philharmonie with Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin, in Auditorium Maximum with Filarmonica Transilvania and in Natianoal Concerthall in Taipei with several Orchestras. He has also given numerous chamber music concerts in Asia and Europe. Mr. Chuang was awarded 1st Prize in the National French Horn Competition in Taiwan three times and 1st Prize in the 5th OSAKA International Music Competition in Japan 2005

Guitar Woojae Kim

He won many prestigious awards and competitions, including Concours International de Guitare en Cerdagne and the Daejeon Daily Press Classical guitar Concour. As an active recitalist, he performed at such venues as Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Hauptkirche St. Katharinen, St Andrew's on the Terrace Wellington, Seoul Art Center, Sejong Chamber Hall, Kumho Art Hall, Youngsan Art Hall etc. He has been music director of the Seongnam International Guitar Festival since 2012 and currently teaches at the Unversity of Seoul, University of Suwon and Baekseok Arts University.

Violin Ju-young Baek 

Lauded by Krzysztof Penderecki as the “next Goddess of Violin,” violinist Ju-Young Baek made national headlines in Korea with her appointment as the youngest faculty member of the prestigious Seoul National University. The recipient of numerous awards, Ju-Young Baek was a laureate at the Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition, Bronze Medalist at the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis with four special prizes, top prize winner at International Paganini, Sibelius, Long-Thibaud, and Seoul International Violin Competitions.

Viola Hartmut Rohde

Violist and conductor Hartmut Rohde delights the audience with his tone and musical language as well as his special commitment to the respective style. Rohde is one of the leading European violists and a founding member of the Mozart Piano Quartet, with which he received the coveted OPUS Klassik Award for the first time in 2018. As a conductor, Rohde is touring with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra and the Seoul Virtuosi to Germany and Korea. Hartmut Rohde has been a professor at the UdK Berlin since 1993 and is an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music London. He plays a viola by Giuseppe Fiorini (1899) and an Ivo Luliano (2016).

Viola Hayang Park

Even in her early years, Hayang Park won a variety of national and international prizes. At twelve years old she won the Concours International de musique et d'art dramatique Léopold Bellan. In 2017 she took third prize in the string section of the 15th Tokyo Music Competition, and performed Hindemith’s viola concerto “Der Schwanendreher” (The Swan Turner) together with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. She has also won numerous prizes in her native Korea, including the Chun-chu Music Competition and the Seoul National Philharmonic Competition. Since October 2021, she has been studying at Kronberg Academy with Nobuko Imai. Her studies are funded by the Ulla Minners/Lore Buscher scholarship.

Cello Kyungjun Lee

Mr. Lee is the top-prize winner of many major music competitions, such as the 1st prize Klaipeda International Cello Competition, After winning the competition, he was appointed as a jury member of the 'David Geringas' International Cello Competition And as part of a special award given by the Pablo Casals Foundation in Spain, he is scheduled to perform the invitation of the Pablo Casals Museum and record work. Also he won the the 1st prize 'Young Virtuoso International Competition' in Bulgaria and 2nd prize Karl Davidoff International Cello Competition. Mr. Lee is currently active in many solo and chamber music performances in Korea, Norway, and Germany.

Cello Jungran Lee

Since giving her debut concert at the age of 11 with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, her performances with orchestras include Baden-Baden Philharmonie Orchestra, Sinfonia Finlandia, l'Orquesta d'Andalucia, l'Orchestre des Lauréats du Conservatoire, Korean Symphony, Baroque Chamber Ensemble among others. Jung-ran Lee has served as associate principal player at the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (with conductor Myung-Whun Chung) from 2007 to 2014. She currently appears as soloist as well as an active chamber musician in Trio Jade and Kumho Asiana Soloists. As a member of Trio Jade she awarded 3rd Prize of Schubert International Chamber Music Competition and 3rd Prize of Trondheim International Music Competition. Ms. Lee also teaches at the Seoul National University and Yonsei University.

Piano Hyo-Sun Lim

Accomplished pianist Hyo-Sun Lim, as a piano professor, piano trio member, and a soloist, has been studying piano since the age of three. She studied in the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia with Gary Graffman, getting the “Festorazzi-award” as most outstanding student of the year. Afterwards she moved to Europe to complete her musical education with Arie Vardi, Hannover Musikhochschule and Leonid Margarius, Accademia Pianistica di Imola (Italy). Ms. Lim is also very well-known as a chamber musician, collaborating with artists such as Arnold Steinhardt, Hilary Hahn, Mischa Maisky and Daniel Lee. She has a piano trio with members of Quarteto Casals, the trio is called ‘Ludwig Trio’. Now she is professor at KyungHee University, Seoul, Korea.

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Conductor Okko Kamu

Okko Kamu was born in 1946 into a family of prof musicians in Helsinki, Finland. He became the 1st concertmaster in the Finnish National Opera’s orchestra and when the Opera needed an emergency replacement, he stepped in front of his colleagues and started a new carrier as a conductor.
In 1969 he was elected to take part in the 1st Herbert von Karajan Conductors’ Competition in Berlin. He won the first price and one of the prices was a recording with the Berlin Phil. His longest and latest engagement was the Singapore Symphony Orchestra for 16 years. He has awarded the highest national order in cultural field, Pro Finlandia and a title of professor from the hand of Finland’s president.

Soprano Iwona Hossa

Iwona Hassa is one of the most prominent sopranos of her generation. Iwona Hossa has won many prizes including Grand Prix and Gold Medal at Maria Callas International Singing Competition in Athens. Her vocal artistry was admired in numerous places all over the world, always fascinating the audience and gaining the respect of critics. She has an honour to cooperate with Maestro Krzysztof Penderecki for eleven years and her repertoire includes all of Maestro’s cantata and oratorio pieces.

Cantor Gerard Edery

Gerard Edery is an artist with a very broad palate of multifarious talents and skills. After graduating from the Manhattan School of Music with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in operatic performance he spent the next 15 years singing opera, recitals and oratorios throughout the United States. He has performed over 30 roles with opera companies all over the U.S. including the New York Lyric Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, L’Opera Français de New York, the Boston Opera, New Orleans Opera, Lake George Opera, New Jersey Lyric Opera, Oklahoma Opera, Opera Milwaukee, the Long Island Lyric Opera and the Opera Ensemble of New York.

Narrator Sławomir Holland

He graduated from the Theatre Academy in Cracow (The Wrocław branch) in 1984. He is the theatre, film, and radio actor. During his professional career, so far he has collaborated with the theatres in Kielce, Bydgoszcz and with six theatres in Warsaw ("Popularny", "Szwedzka 2/4 Theatre", "Na Woli", "Syrena", "Polish Radio Theatre", and "Ateneum"). With the latter he has been collaborating until now. For many years he worked with the "Laboratory of Drama" and the theatre group "Atlantis", also in Warsaw. he started cooperation with Krzysztof Penderecki, performing his Seven Gates of Jerusalem, as well as narrator part in St. Lucas Passion (opening of Salzburger Festspiele 2018).

Violin Ju-young Baek 

Lauded by Krzysztof Penderecki as the “next Goddess of Violin,” violinist Ju-Young Baek made national headlines in Korea with her appointment as the youngest faculty member of the prestigious Seoul National University. The recipient of numerous awards, Ju-Young Baek was a laureate at the Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition, Bronze Medalist at the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis with four special prizes, top prize winner at International Paganini, Sibelius, Long-Thibaud, and Seoul International Violin Competitions.

Violin Dami Kim

Viola Sang Jin Kim

Critically acclaimed violist Sang-Jin Kim has won several solo and chamber music competitions internationally. He was invited to the Marlboro, Aspen and Musicmountain, Rheingau, Villa Musica and Mach-art, Prague Spring, Cervo festivals and the international Musician's Seminar at Prussia Cove. A former member of the International Sejong Soloists and Kumho Asiana String Quartet, Sang-Jin is frequently invited as soloist with major symphony orchestras in Korea. Upon receiving the Presidential Award in 2001, a highest civilian award in Korea, he was subsequently designated as an Embassador of Culture in honor of his achievements. Since then, he performed in many parts of the world including Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Southern Asia in fulfillment of this duty. He is now a professor of viola performance at the Yonsei University in Seoul.

Cello Minji Kim

Cellist Minji Kim won the first prize at the Korean Internarional Music Foundation Competition in Los Angeles. She also received first prize and the special award for commissioned work for Irving M Klein International String Competition and she was a semi-finalist at the Rostropovich Cello Competition and Naumberg competition. She was assistant principal of Orchestra Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Spain under Lorin Mazzel, principal of Seoul Art Center Festival Orchestra and the professor at Keimyung University. Currently, she is an active member of Kumho Asiana Soloist, Cellista Cello Ensemble and the professor at Seoul National University since 2018

SIMF Orchestra

Seoul International Music Festival Orchestra is a Symphony Orchestra that brings together soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestra members to take part of Seoul International Music Festival. For the Seoul International Music Festival in 2010, the SIMF Orchestra was composed of talented Korean musicians and French woodwind players under the direction of Grzegorz Nowak, the permanent associate conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
SIMF orchestra is highly acclaimed for its various musical attempts and for creating successful artistic outcomes through valuable exchange programs between talented artists. And SIMF orchestra goes on and on.

The National Chorus of Korea

The National Chorus of Korea (N.C.K), the country's first professional chorus and choral leader, was founded in 1973 in order to pursue the professional and artistic aspects of choral singing. The N.C.K has elevated Korean choral music from an amateur to professional level, which has served as the motivation for developing the chorus to become one of the world's greatest vocal music groups.
The members of the chorus have greatly contributed to the field of vocal music in Korea. Currently, the chorus is being led by 11th Artistic director, Yoon Euijoong.

SIMF Choir

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