Van Cliburn Gold Medal Winner Yekwon Sunwoo performs at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall

May 2 recital includes music by Clara and Robert Schumann, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff

Presented by Korea Mecenat Association and Korea Music Foundation

On May 2 at 7:30 pm, the pianist Yekwon Sunwoo performs at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall. The program includes Rachmaninoff's "Moments Musicaux," a Chopin Barcarolle, Robert Schumann's Fantasy in C Major, and Clara Schumann's "Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann."

Yekwon Sunwoo is the first Korean gold medalist of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, which he won in 2017. Since then, he has gone on to perform with major symphony orchestras in Europe, Asia and the United States, and performed in recital at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Elphilharmonie, among others. He is an avid chamber musician, collaborating with Gary Hoffman, Anne-Marie McDermott and the Jerusalem and Brentano Quartets. His discography includes recordings on Decca Universal Music Korea and Decca Gold.

The concert on Friday, May 2, 2025 at 7:30 pm is presented by the Korea Mecenat Association and Korea Music Foundation, at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall (154 West 57th Street in New York City). Tickets start at $70 ($60 + $10 fee) and are available at CarnegieHall.org, CarnegieCharge 212-247-7800 | Box Office at 57th and Seventh.

Tickets start at $70 ($60 + $10 fee) and are available at CarnegieHall.org | CarnegieCharge 212-247-7800 | Box Office at 57th and Seventh

PROGRAM

Robert Schumann: Fantasy in C Major, Op. 17 

Frédéric Chopin: Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60

Clara Schumann: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Moments Musicaux

Yekwon Sunwoo 

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 also, in his own words, "strives to reach for the truth and pure beauty in music.”

The first Korean Gold medallist of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Yekwon's 24/25 season includes appearances with Ann Arbor Symphony, New York Classical Players, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Armenian Symphony as well as recitals at the University of Michigan, Bechstein Hall and Carnegie Hall.

Recent highlights include concertos with the Macao, Kalamazoo & Victoria Symphonies, Slovak Philharmonic, Orchestre de Chambre de Paris as well as a US tour with the Esme String Quartet.

In previous seasons, he has performed as a soloist with the Munich Philharmonic and Valery Gergiev, Royal Danish Orchestra with Thomas Søndergard, Fort Worth and Tucson Symphonies, Washington Chamber Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, National Orchestra of Belgium, Sendai Philharmonic and Royal Scottish National Orchestra amongst others. Recital appearances include Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Elbphilharmonie, Salle Cortot, Hong Kong Arts Festival, and a tour of Japan.

An avid chamber musician, Yekwon's collaborators include Clara Jumi Kang, Sebastian Bohren, Benjamin Beilman, Linus Roth, Andrei lonita, Sebastian Bohren, lsang Enders, Tobias Feldmann, Gary Hoffman, Anne-Marie McDermott and the Jerusalem and Brentano Quartets. He has also toured Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama with the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation and performed at Chamber Music of Lincoln Center's Inside Chamber Music Lectures.

In addition to the Cliburn Gold Medal, Yekwon 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 Universal Music Korea featuring works by Rachmaninov following his first album in 2020 of works by Mozart. In 2017, Decca Gold released Cliburn Gold 2017 two weeks after Yekwon was awarded the Gold Medal and includes his award-winning performances of Ravel's La Valse and Rachmaninov's Second Piano Sonata.

Korea Music Foundation

Founded in 1984, the Korea Music Foundation enhances lives and strengthens communities through the transformative impact of music. Since its inception, KMF has presented numerous solo, orchestra, and chamber ensemble debut concerts in New York at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Merkin Hall. KMF has presented artists David Kim, Catherine Cho, Minsoo Sohn and many others in concert, and runs a chamber music series at the Korean Cultural Service New York. 

KMF has been working with Korea Mecenat Association, a distinguished group of Korean companies with the aim to elevate the prominence of K-Classical on a global stage by showcasing exceptional Korean performers in American classical venues. Visit KoreaMusicFoundation.org.