Yoonjung Han – Piano Protégé
South Korean, Yoonjung Han has been widely acclaimed as a rising star in the piano world. She has won top prizes from distinguished international competitions and the highest accolades for her poetic performances in major concert halls in the United States and around the world.
Gold medalist at the 2008 World Piano Competition in Cincinnati, First prize winner at the Gina Bachauer at Juilliard, named the “Most Promising Young Artist” by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Yoonjung recently won the 2009 Gawon Music Award as the “most brilliant pianist aged 17-31 of any nationality who possesses the most promising potential for global prominence.”
Yoonjung Han has amassed audiences worldwide, appearing in major cities of the United States, Asia, and Europe. Her stellar performances have been heard in concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, San Rocco Theater in Italy, Finlandia Hall in Finland, Sejong Performing Arts Center in Korea, and Villa Bertramka Mozart Museum in Czech Republic.
Her 2009/2010 engagements include a debut recital at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall and performances at the Dame Myra Hess Concert Series in Chicago, Phillips Collection in Washington DC, Aronoff Center in Cincinnati, Caspary Auditorium at Rockefeller University, and Sejong Concert Hall in Korea.
Asiance: As a classical concert pianist, you’ve performed in great concert Halls all over the world. I want to say, it’s a pleasure to be here with you and congratulations on your continued success. Besides performing live concerts, do you plan on making any recordings of your music, so we can enjoy your music at home? What compositions would you like to record?
Yoonjung: Thank you, and Yes, I’m in process of making my CD now. It will include Schumann (my favorite composer) Carnaval, Bach-Busoni Chaconne and a few others that are meaningful to me.
Asiance: You’ll also be performing Schumann’s composition Friday, April 16, 2010, at your engagement at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, along with Chopin, Haydn & Granados. Please tell me about these pieces.
Yoonjung: Yes, I’m so excited for this concert, I’m playing four of my favorite piano works. I begin the evening with Joseph Haydn’s Piano Sonata Hob XVI/52, the last of his many sonatas. It’s lively, witty, joyful, and charming.
The year, 2010 is the 200th birthday of Frederic Chopin, and to celebrate his Birthday, I’m performing Chopin’s epic Third Piano Sonata, his last and longest piece. It may be less famous than his “Funeral March” Sonata, but I find it more beautiful.
I hope you’ll come celebrate Chopin’s Birthday with me… and then I’m playing:
A piece by Enrique Granados, Goyescas. That was inspired by Francisco Goya’s paintings, a true piano masterpiece.
Granados composed this six piece suite in 1911 and adapted it to opera four years later. I’ll be performing Goyescas, number one (Los requiebros – flattery) and number five (El amor y la muerte – love and death).
I’ve fallen in love with Goyescas’ distinct Spanish rhythm, culture and color and prepared for these pieces by immersing myself in Spanish music, art, literature and film.
I’m very passionate about performing these pieces.
This music is also very dramatic. In the opera version, two men meet a woman, flatter her and fall in love with her. But eventually love turns into a duel to the death between the suitors, and the woman’s true love dies in her arms.
Then I’ll be performing a favorite piece of mine, Carnaval, composed by Robert Schumann. It has 22 sections portraying characters and scenes from the pre-Lenten Carnival festival.
This is another piece with which I’ve fallen in love with. The music ranges from passion (Florestan) to fantasy and poetry (Eusebius), and is filled with a wonderful biting humor— The music not only represents a Carnival—it is a Carnival in music, full of the joy of life.
Asiance: I read your very impressive, short Bio & see you’ve won a number of competitions throughout your career, please tell me about the significance of competitions and what they mean to you…
Yoonjung: I’ve been exposed to many competitions. For me, being a musician is a non-stop process of perfecting one’s skill and discipline. And competitions give me a reason to push myself further… A competition gives me a “deadline”, an assignment I have to perfect by a certain time.
My goal when preparing for a competition is to reach my maximum ability and be as successful as possible.
So in the preparation, I train myself, and practice to be the best I can be at the moment.
Asiance: Congratulations on your winning the Gold Medal for the World Piano Competition. I’m sure it’s an honor to be recognized for your musical abilities and to win a competition…
Yoonjung: Thank you, yes it’s definitely an honor to be recognized, but it’s not the winning that matters so much, it’s the process of improving my skills and abilities as a musician that I enjoy even more. Then, to have the opportunity to perform and share my love of music with an audience. Competitions actually make me a better performer.
Asiance: Do you work with any contemporary composers?
Yoonjung: Yes I do, and what I love to illustrate in my contemporary repertoire is the authenticity of the music.
Contemporary music provides me with the best instruction in learning difficult harmonies and making sense of new, innovative performance techniques.
It also makes me realize that musical expression is as infinite as one’s imagination.
This spiritual freedom I find in playing contemporary literature is what I enjoy most about it.
I believe Contemporary Music shares the same musical gift as Classical Music, yet distinguishes itself by embracing creative approaches by different composers.
When I listen to Contemporary Music, I try to decode the hidden language that the composer is expressing in his/her piece.
I will continue learning and playing Contemporary Music, and hopefully inspire interest in others with the creative harmonies they may not have experienced.
Asiance: That sounds very inspiring, I’m now very curious to hear more contemporary music. Do you teach others how to play the piano, and are you involved in any educational programs?
Yoonjung: Participating in, and leading outreach programs is another goal of mine. I believe these programs are a great way to influence many people, especially the younger generation who may not have been exposed to classical music.
Unfortunately, some people have been alienated from classical music through other genres of music.
I believe, as an artist, it is my responsibility and privilege to bring the gift of music to the public, and promote the connection of great music to the heart.
I find it motivating to be part of new efforts and energy directed at changing the attitudes of listeners and reaching out to new audiences.
I’m now involved with the music community, getting advice and help to provide the best scholarly experiences for people outside of the music society. It’s an invigorating challenge to create music that attests to the power of music and influence people’s lives.
Asiance: Please let us know if we can help you with your outreach. I understand your mom had an influence on you as a little girl to play the piano.
Yoonjung: Yes, my mother was my first teacher.
Asiance: What was it that your Mother inspired in you that made you want to be a professional musician?
Yoonjung: What my mom inspired in me as a child, is why I have a strong desire to encourage and influence the youth with music.
I remember the feelings I had as a little girl, when my mom patiently showed me how to control the keyboard and make beautiful sounds come out of the piano.
I’m so grateful that she never forced me to practice, but encouraged me to be friends with the piano and have fun with it!
From my childhood until now, music has had a lasting effect on my life, with extraordinary lessons that have developed my talent and true spirit as a musician.
My goal is to fulfill my talent as a professional musician, serving the musical world by contributing to the community and helping to make meaningful musical experiences accessible to everyone.
In addition, I hope to promote more involvement and experience with quality music and art opportunities, encouraging the younger generation to further explore all fields of music.
Asiance: There’s nothing better than to inspire and share the gift of music with others… I’m sure you will touch the lives of many…as you already have. What is your dream as a performing artist for the future?
Yoonjung: My musical path has been rigorous and gratifying. But the most important thing I learned as a performer is to have the right intention. To have the intention to connect with my audience with pure artistry, virtuosity and to share my personal feelings with the audience. Good things happen when an audience discovers the spirit of the music in themselves.
It is only because the seed of inspiration has been shared with me, by other great musicians that I have set my goal: To fully experience the joy in music and share it with others.
Asiance: That’s truly a beautiful aspiration. What are some of the things in music you want to share with others?
Yoonjung: Throughout my life, I have found the beauty in music. Music affects us in many ways. It can disturb us or it can sooth and lift our spirits.
I find it truly wonderful to lose myself in a piece of music. It is my wish and desire to share this experience with others. My willingness to transform and influence the lives of people through music has become my primary motivation.
Asiance: Going back a little, I understand you’re originally from South Korea. How did you come to U.S.A?
Yoonjung: I came to the USA when I was 15 years old to advance my musical career.
My experience at the Curtis Institute of Music, and the Juilliard School has been a pleasure; being exposed to excellent music, and being surrounded by so many talented musicians with whom I have exchanged musical philosophies and shared special musical moments.
Studying abroad was the best next step for me because it helped me to advance my performance career, and provide many opportunities to participate creatively in various musical activities.
Asiance: Sounds like you’ve been very busy and your family must be very proud of you. But do you ever miss your family?
Yoonjung: Yes I do, and I’m also very lucky to have my adopted “USA mom & dad” in Mississippi. Let me explain. In 2007, I visited Mississippi for my concert and stayed with a lovely couple, and since then, they call me their “korean daughter”. I think of them as my “USA mom & dad”.
Asiance: Nice to have love and support of our family near or far. It’s truly a pleasure to be with you today, and I look forward to your upcoming performance at Alice Tully hall. I encourage our readers to get their tickets now and come hear you play.
Tickets are priced at only $ 15 and $20…
Who knows maybe someone reading this will be inspired to be a musician !!!
Yoonjung: Thank you, and please do come see & hear me perform at Alice Tully Hall, This is a very special concert for me, that I’d love to share with you… My contact information is:
http://www.webconcerthall.com/interview/interview2007/yoonjung_h.htm
http://www.yoonjunghan.com
http://www.youtube.com/yoonjunghan
Asiance: tickets are $ 15 & $20 & can be purchased at: http://www.lincolncenter.org
Or http://www.lincolncenter.org/show_events_list.asp?eventcode=24323