Pianist Kim Sunwook Appointed New Artistic Director of Gyeonggi Philharmonic

Two-Year Term Starting January 2024

Kim Sun-wook (35), a pianist and conductor, has been appointed as the new artistic director of the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra (hereinafter Gyeonggi Phil).

Kim Sun-wook, newly appointed Artistic Director of the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra. (C) Marco Borggreve [Photo by Gyeonggi Arts Center]

The Gyeonggi Arts Center announced on the 20th that Kim Sun-wook has been appointed as the next artistic director of Gyeonggi Phil. His term will be for two years, from January 2024 to December 31, 2025.

Starting with the Gyeonggi Provincial Arts Troupe New Year's concert in January next year, Kim Sun-wook plans to conduct Gyeonggi Phil about 10 times throughout the year. He will also participate in the open recruitment of new Gyeonggi Phil members this November, held for the first time in five years, in his capacity as the next artistic director.

Kim Sun-wook gained international recognition by winning the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2006. He entered the conducting department at the Royal Academy of Music in the UK, studying under Colin Metters. He has proven his capabilities as a conductor by working with leading domestic orchestras such as the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra, Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, and Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as international orchestras including the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in the UK, the Madrid Excelentia Foundation in Spain, and the Macau Orchestra. He is scheduled to guest conduct the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan, Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, George Enescu Philharmonic, Polish Silesian Philharmonic, and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

In June, Kim Sun-wook appeared on the podium as a guest conductor for the Gyeonggi Phil Masterpiece Series. He also collaborated with Gyeonggi Phil performing Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 at the Seoul Arts Center Symphony Festival.

The Gyeonggi Arts Center explained that, in a situation where Gyeonggi Province emphasizes giving 'opportunities' in various areas, granting the position of permanent artistic director to a young conductor is a factor that harmonizes with musicality and raises expectations for a vibrant Gyeonggi Phil.

Seo Chun-gi, president of the Gyeonggi Arts Center, said, "We are pleased to recruit Kim Sun-wook, an actively working musician, to the position of artistic director of Gyeonggi Phil, which had been vacant for over a year," and added, "We hope that Kim Sun-wook, who will fully demonstrate his abilities as a conductor, will grow together with Gyeonggi Phil and have the opportunity to expand onto the world stage."

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