Kumho Art Hall Resident Pianist Kim Su-yeon "Will Present Intuitive Performance Like Drawing a Picture"

Kumho Art Hall 2023 Resident Musician Selected
Directly Planning 5 Performances Next Year, Featuring Various Programs Including Vocalist Collaboration

Pianist Kim Su-yeon, who was selected as the resident musician of Kumho Art Hall in 2023, is listening to questions at a press conference held on the morning of the 27th at Kumho Art Hall Yonsei in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] "I heard this moment is such a special experience, and I think it’s an experience that young performers cannot easily have. Because of that, I feel a sense of responsibility, but I want to enjoy it as much as possible."

28-year-old pianist Kim Suyeon, who was selected as the resident musician of Kumho Art Hall in 2023, calmly shared her thoughts. Starting with the Kumho Art Hall New Year Concert early next year, she will take the stage five times in total to meet the audience.

The Kumho Art Hall Resident Musician program, which will mark its 11th year next year, began in 2003. Each year, one young performer is selected and provided with 4 to 5 planned concert stages throughout the year to intensively support their growth as musicians. Top-tier performers such as pianists Kim Dasol, Sunwoo Yekwon, Park Jonghae; violinists Park Hyeyoon, Jo Jinju, Yang Inmo, Lee Jiyoon, Kim Donghyun; cellist Moon Taeguk; and clarinetist Kim Han have all passed through the resident musician program.

At a press conference held on the 27th at Kumho Art Hall Yonsei in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Kim Suyeon said, "I think planning several concerts in one year at a young age is an experience that is not easily obtained," expressing her feelings.

The program is also diverse. She will lead a concert themed ‘Hwawoom (畵音): Painting and Music’ in the new year, which incorporates intuitive and visual painting elements into music. Along with solo recitals, she will perform a variety of programs including a duo recital with a vocalist and a piano quintet. She said, "I have high expectations for broadening my repertoire, so I think I will feel a greater sense of accomplishment than any other performance after completing all the prepared concerts," adding, "Since I haven’t had many stages in Korea so far, meeting various audiences at the same place throughout the year feels special."

Kim Suyeon gained attention last year by becoming the first East Asian to win the piano category at the Montreal International Competition. She then proved her skills by reaching the semifinals of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium. She said, "Because of the pandemic, the Montreal Competition was held online, and when I heard the news of winning, I had already finished performing at the Queen Elisabeth Competition. It was actually burdensome to do both at the same time, but my teacher Pavel Gililov told me it was absolutely possible to participate in both competitions, so I was able to take on the challenge," adding, "He said that performing more will become my daily routine and that it would be good training, and I was able to prepare with encouragement like that."

When asked about participating in other competitions, she drew a clear line by saying she would no longer participate. Kim Suyeon said, "I participated in quite a few competitions during my study abroad, and if I were younger, I might have been more open-minded, but I don’t think it’s necessary now." She confessed, "I grew a lot through competitions, but once I moved beyond that, I felt freedom. Since deciding not to participate anymore, I have been able to feel musical richness and the expansion of boundaries."

Starting with the Kumho Art Hall New Year Concert 'Sketch' (January 5), she plans to convey her own message on stage through works by Bach, Mozart, Franck, and Chopin, expressing her gratitude.

Pianist Kim Su-yeon, who was selected as the resident musician of Kumho Art Hall in 2023, is performing at a press conference held on the morning of the 27th at Kumho Art Hall Yonsei in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On April 27, she will present 'Blending,' which fuses the epitome of sonata form with the completely opposite free fantasy. On August 31, she will stage 'Light and Shadow' with tenor Kim Seil through her first-ever art song concert. On September 7, she will present a concert themed on the Greek word 'Philia (love),' featuring Mozart, a composer she personally holds dear. Finally, on December 7, she will perform piano quintets by Shostakovich and Dvo??k with the string quartet Danel in 'Collage Party.'

Kim Suyeon said, "Looking back, I studied music itself and how to read scores more than technique. My teacher always wrote on the scores with a pencil and said that not using a pen meant the score is absolute and should be respected." She added, "I also try to see the composer’s intention hidden behind the score, and in that sense, my teacher is like a father of music to me." She continued, "My teacher always told me to become a musician, not just a pianist, and hoped I would look at music without being biased toward just playing the piano well."

Kim Suyeon started playing the piano at age five and made her debut at age ten with the Kumho Young Artist Concert. She attended Yewon School and Korea National University of Arts, then completed her bachelor’s, master’s, and artist diploma at the Mozarteum University Salzburg in Austria. Pavel Gililov, a world-renowned pianist and her teacher from Russia, praised Kim Suyeon as "a musician who captivates the audience more than anyone else and connects with them."

Kim Suyeon expressed her ambition to grow as a 'connected' musician through encounters with audiences. "Even when the stage lights are dim and I cannot see the audience, I can feel their breathing and energy in the spaces between the performances. Their focused attention gives me strength to continue playing. These are truly precious moments as a performer."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.