One of the most sought-after pianists of her generation, South Korean pianist HieYon Choi first appeared on the international piano music scene when she won prizes at high-profile competitions such as Kapell, Epinal, Busoni and Viotti. HieYon Choi has been since performing with prestigious orchestras of Europe, US and Korea such as das Rundfunkorchester Berlin, the National Symphony Orchestra (Washington DC), the Northern Sinfonia, the Korean Broadcast Symphony Orchestra and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

A milestone of HieYon’s performing career was the four-year long cycle of all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas at the Kumho Art Hall in Seoul.

 

Alongside the canon of the classical piano literature such as Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and Debussy, Music of 20th & 21st century forms another important part of HieYon’s career.

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Beethoven 32 Piano Sonatas

 

“A model of intelligent Bravura” – [Grammophone UK]

 

“Her sophisticated scaling of dynamics and pinpointed timing of chords and silences left me awestruck: this is one of Op. 10 No. 1’s greatest recorded performances” – [Classics Today]

 

“In Choi’s performance, one could feel the spirit of the classical tradition embodied by pianists like Wilhelm Kempff and Wilhelm Backhaus” – [Review KR]

 

“She truly understands the music, internalizes it, and is thus able to shape its many subtleties into a cohesive whole—arguably the greatest challenge in performing these sonatas.” – [Piano News DE]

 

“In Op. 81a, she traces the pain embedded in the music with such conviction that the emotional content becomes deeply palpable.”
– [Piano News DE]

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“In my studio, I strive to foster an environment of mutual growth—both musically and personally. For over 25 years at SNU Music, and since 2023 at Peabody, I have aimed to create a space where students can discover their individual voices and unique talents. My approach centers on supporting them in developing and refining their full potential. Over the years, my students have been a constant source of inspiration and shared joy, mirroring my own artistic journey.”

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