The World On arirang

Delivering breathtaking performances on the piano, Yeol-eum Son

Yeol-eum Son has had the greatest achievements ever made by a Korean pianist. She was the youngest pianist to come in 2nd place at the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in 1997, and to win the 1st prize at the Oberlin International Piano Competition, the Ettlingen International Competition for Young Pianists, and the Viotti International Music Competition. She also won the 2nd Prize, Prize for the Best Performance of the Mozart Concerto, and Prize for the Best Performance of the Appointed Piece at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 2011. Meet the world-class pianist Yeol-eum Son on the INNERview.

Young pianist who has captivated the world!

Yeol-eum Son has performed with top-notch musicians from around the globe at world-class venues. She is known as a versatile pianist, who has put on solo recitals and performed with orchestral accompaniment and in chamber ensembles. She is currently studying under the tutelage of an Israeli classical pianist, Arie Vardi, at the Hochschule fur Musik und Theater Hannover in Germany, yet she is still regarded as a 'domestically trained musician' who studied with Professor Kim Dae-jin. She says that she is grateful for receiving excellent education and training in Korea and is proud to be called a 'domestically trained musician,' which shows her artistic roots.

A daring and independent child from Wonju

Yeol-eum Son, born and raised in Wonju, Gangwon Province, began playing the piano at the age of 3. She learned the music scores and techniques faster than any other kids her age, and even held a recital at a wedding hall in her neighborhood, only a year later. She then made her official debut in the music world through a program conducted by a cultural foundation to discover and assist gifted children in music. Yeol-eum Son, regarded as a piano prodigy, traveled abroad all on her own when she was just in elementary school to take part in international piano competitions.

"I am a music lover."

Yeol-eum Son, praised by other world-class musicians, has two jobs; she is a pianist and a columnist. Known to be an excellent writer, Yeol-eum Son writes a monthly column for a daily newspaper as another way to show her genuine love and passion for music.

Yeol-eum Son, with a stellar career as a pianist, is expected to blossom into a true musician and artist and continue to make history in the world of music.