For pianist Seonyoul (25), 2024 was a memorable year. At the Gina Bachauer Competition held in Salt Lake City, USA in June, she swept the first place, audience award, and student jury award. In December, he jointly won the first prize with pianist Seongho Yoo at the 19th Seoul International Music Competition with LG.
He will hold a recital at the Kumho Art Hall Yonsei in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 23rd as part of the Kumho Cultural Foundation’s ‘Kumho Rising Star’ series. The program was compiled solely from French works from the Baroque to modern times, including Rameau’s ‘Gavotte and Six Variations’ and Debussy’s Bergamasque Suite.
“I liked French composers and performers from the beginning. “Most people around me went to the United States or Germany to study, but since I was responsible for my life, I wanted to make a choice that was a little different from others.”
After studying with Daejin Kim at the Korea National University of Arts, Seonyul began studying with Olivier Gardon at the Scholacantorum in Paris, France.
“A year later, I decided to learn from another teacher, and Mr. Gardon told me that he was moving to the École Normale Conservatory in Paris and asked if I wanted to go with him. “I also liked the teacher so much that I followed him without hesitation.”
The teacher said he did not give advice on technical matters except for the first few months. “You have to feel the music for the listener to feel it too, and he always emphasizes that you have to enjoy the music while playing it.”
One of the strengths of the melody that colleagues comment on is that ‘even difficult songs are played in a way that makes them feel not difficult.’ This program also includes Alkan’s ‘Aesop’s Fables’, which has a reputation for demanding the highest level of technique. He said, “It is a long-term song chosen as the first song in the first round in several competitions.”
There is something that many people are curious about. Did his name hint at his destiny to become a musician?
“It’s a name my parents gave me to mean to grow up beautifully. (Laughs) When I was young, Taekwondo was my specialty, and it wasn’t until I was in the 4th grade of elementary school that I started playing the piano. “I’m 4 or 5 years behind my peers who usually major, but I think the results paid off as much as I worked hard.”
Seonyul will hold a recital at the Barletta Piano Festival in Italy as a privilege for winning the Gina Bachauer Competition in July. Major performances are scheduled for next year, including a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York and a collaboration with the Utah Symphony Orchestra. When asked what he imagines the future to be like, he answered, “A performer who is good at performing repertoire from various eras and countries.” At the end of the interview, he repeatedly asked, “Please don’t forget to say that you are truly grateful to Teachers Daejin Kim and Teacher Gardon, and to the Chung Mong-koo Foundation and Kumho Cultural Foundation for their support so far.”
Yoo Yun-jong, cultural reporter [email protected]
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