Choi, Young Sun


          Young Sun Choi, a pianist hailing from South Korea, embarked on her piano journey at the tender age of six. Her musical odyssey began at Yewon School, and later at Seoul Arts School, under the tutelage of Jung Won Moon. Continuing her pursuit of musical excellence, she furthered her studies at Seoul National University, where she was awarded a prestigious national scholarship by the Korean government. Young Sun Choi graduated summa cum laude from Seoul National University, having earned a bachelor's degree in piano and musicology. Her piano studies were enriched under the guidance of Aviram Reichert, while her exploration of musicology was nurtured by Hee-Sook Oh.
In 2018, Young Sun Choi made a move to the United States, where she attained a master's degree in music from IU Jacobs School of Music. She currently continues her educational journey as a doctoral student at the same institution, under the mentorship of Arnaldo Cohen. Additionally, Choi serves as an associate instructor in the piano department at the Jacobs School of Music.

          Young Sun Choi's remarkable talent has earned her numerous accolades on the international stage. Notably, she emerged as the first prize winner of the 26th Rina Sala Gallo Monza International Piano Competition and has claimed top honors in prestigious competitions such as the Bösendorfer USASU International Piano Competition, American International Paderewski Piano Competition, Franz Schubert and Modern Music International Chamber Music Competition, and Lyon International Piano Competition. Her dedication to her craft has been recognized through scholarships, including the Mildred E. Allen Memorial Piano Award from Indianapolis Matinee Musicale, as well as the Ham Merit Award and O'Meara Merit Award from the National Society of Arts and Letters in the United States.

          Young Sun Choi's artistry has graced the stages of renowned orchestras worldwide, including the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, Korean Broadcasting System Symphony Orchestra, Prime Philharmonic Orchestra, Kazan Chamber Orchestra "La Primavera," and the Indiana University Symphony Orchestra. As a member of Trio Unio, she has enchanted audiences with piano trio recitals at diverse venues, among them the Alpensia Concert Hall in PyeongChang.
E D U C A T I O N
2020 ~ Present Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Doctor of Music in Piano Performance and Music Literature (Doctoral Minor: Music Theory and Collaborative Piano)
2020 Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Master of Music in Piano Performance
2018 Seoul National University, Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Musicology (Summa Cum Laude)

2‌012 Seoul Arts High School
2009 Yewon School
A W A R D S
2023 Bösendorfer USASU International Piano Competition, 2nd Prize and Audience Prize
2022 Rina Sala Gallo Monza International Piano Competition, First Prize, Audience Prize, Chopin Prize, and Orchestra Prize
2022 "Franz Schubert and Modern Music" International Chamber Music Competition, 2nd Prize
2022 American International Paderewski Piano Competition, Winner
2022 Indiana University Concerto Competition, Winner
2021 KBS-KEPCO Music Competition, 2nd Prize
2021 Concours International Leopold Bellan, Prix D'Honneur
2‌019 Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Collegiate Scholarship Audition, 1st prize: The Mildred E. Allen Memorial Piano Award
‌2019 The National Society of Arts and Letters Music Competition, The Ham Merit Award and O'Meara Merit Award
‌2019 Ann & Charles Eisemann International Young Artist Competition, 3rd Prize
‌2018 Indiana University Concerto Competition, Winner
‌2018 International Piano Competition of Lyon, 3rd Prize
2‌017 Dong-A Music Competition, 2nd Prize
2‌016 International Competition "Young Virtuoso," 2nd Prize and Special Prize
2016 Korea-Asia Piano Open Competition, 2nd Prize
2015-2017 Korean National Scholarship for Outstanding Artists
‌2014 Samick Cultural Foundation & Seoul National University Alumni Association Scholarship
‌2014 HDC Youngchang Music Concours, Grand Prize
C O N C E R T S
2023 FAZIOLI Winners' Concert Series - Solo Recital (Fazioli Concert Hall, Sacile, Italy)
2023 Paderewski Piano Festival in Raleigh - Opening Recital (SECU Auditorium, North Carolina Museum of Art, USA)
2023 Student Recital (Jacobs School of Music, Ford-Crawford Hall)
2023 Winners' Concert of the Bösendorfer USASU International Piano Competition (The Katzin Concert, Arizona Sate University)
2022 Song Gang Concert (LS Yongsan Tower)
2022 Music in PyeongChang Festival - Special Concert III (Alpensia Concert Hall)
2022 The House Concert - July Festival (Artist House)
2022 Performance with KBS Symphony Orchestra (KEPCO Headquarter, Hanbit Hall)
2021 Doctoral Solo Recital (Jacobs School of Music, Auer Hall)
2021 Doctoral Concerto Recital (Jacobs School of Music, Recital Hall)
2021 Piano Trio Recital "Seocho Chamber Festival" (Sharon Hall)
2021 Piano Trio Recital "I-Eum Concert" (Samick Art Hall)
2021 Piano Trio Recital "Der Anfang" (Ensemblian Ensemble Hall)
2020 Piano Duo Recital "Two Pianist's Conversation on the Keyboard" (Salon De Musique)
2019 Performed with Indiana University Student Orchestra (Jacobs School of Music, Recital Hall)
2019 Master's Recital (Jacobs School of Music, Auer Hall)
‌2019 Premiered John William Griffith II's Snowmass for Orchestra (IU Musical Arts Center)
‌2018 Kumho Young Artist Concert (Kumho Art Hall)
‌2018 Performed with Indiana University Symphony Orchestra (IU Musical Arts Center)
‌2018 Performed with Kazan Chamber Orchestra "La Primavera" (Salle Moliere)
‌2017 Bachelor's Recital (Seoul National University, Concert Hall)
‌2016 Youngsan Debut Concert (Youngsan Art Hall)
‌2016 "The Gift of Christmans" Piano Ensemble Concert (Yamaha Artist Services Seoul) 
‌2016 Gala Concert (Academy of Music, University of Zagreb)
‌2015 Performed with Prime Philharmonic Orchestra (Gunpo Culture & Arts Center)
‌2015 Gala Concert (Tel Aviv Museum of Art)
‌2014 Samick-SNU Talent Donation Recital (Samick Art Hall)
‌2014 Young Artist Concert (Youngsan Yangjae Hall)
M A S T E R C L A S S E S
Edward Auer, Michel Dalberto, Nikita Fitenko, Ian Hobson, Phillip Kawin, Alexander Korsantia, Emanuel Krasovsky,
Kyung-Sook Lee, Christoph Liske, Glead Mishory, Hee Sung Joo, Heasun Paik, Jong Wha Park, Benjamin Pasternack,
Elizabeth Pridonoff, Jose Ribera, Soo-Jung Shin, Nelita True, Awadagin Pratt, and Sara Davis Buechner, Yeol Eum Son, 
Jean-Marc Phillips-Varjabédian (Trio Wanderer),  Svetlin Roussev, Leonard Elschenbroich