Yekwon Sunwoo

Yekwon Sunwoo has been hailed for his “unfailingly consistent excellence” (International Piano) and celebrated as "a pianist who commands a comprehensive technical arsenal that allows him to thunder without breaking a sweat" (Chicago Tribune). A powerful and virtuosic performer, he also, in his own words, "strives to reach for the truth and pure beauty in music.”   

The first Korean Gold medallist of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Yekwon's 25/26 season includes appearances with Baltimore Symphony, NSO of Uzbekistan, Korean American Music Supporters' Association and at the Z+ and Le French May Festivals amongst others.   

Recent highlights include concertos with the Ann Arbor Symphony, New York Classical Players, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Armenian Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, Macao Symphony, Victoria Symphony, Slovak Philharmonic, Orchestre de Chambre de Paris as well as recitals at the University of Michigan, Bechstein Hall and Carnegie Hall.  

In previous seasons, he has performed as a soloist with the Munich Philharmonic and Valery Gergiev, Royal Danish Orchestra with Thomas Søndergard, Fort Worth and Tucson Symphonies, Washington Chamber Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, National Orchestra of Belgium, Sendai Philharmonic and Royal Scottish National Orchestra amongst others. Recital appearances include Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Elbphilharmonie, Salle Cortot, Hong Kong Arts Festival, and a tour of Japan.   

An avid chamber musician, Yekwon's collaborators include Clara Jumi Kang, Sebastian Bohren, Benjamin Beilman, Linus Roth, Andrei lonita, Sebastian Bohren, lsang Enders, Tobias Feldmann, Gary HoAman, Anne-Marie McDermott and the Jerusalem and Brentano Quartets. He has also toured Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama with the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation and performed at Chamber Music of Lincoln Center's Inside Chamber Music Lectures.   

In addition to the Cliburn Gold Medal, Yekwon won first prizes at the 2015 International German Piano Award, the 2014 Vendome Prize held at the Verbier Festival, the 2013 Sendai International Music Competition and the 2012 William Kapell International Piano Competition.   

Born in Anyang, South Korea, Yekwon began learning the piano at the age of 8 and made his recital and orchestral debuts in Seoul at 15. His teachers include Seymour Lipkin, Robert McDonald, Richard Goode and Bernd Goetzke.   

In September 2023, Yekwon released his second album for Decca Universal Music Korea  featuring works by Rachmaninov following his first album in 2020 of works by Mozart. In 2017, Decca Gold released Cliburn Gold 2017 two weeks after Yekwon was awarded the Gold Medal and includes his award-winning performances of Ravel's La Valse and Rachmaninov's Second Piano Sonata. 
 

Quatuor Elmire

Founded in 2017, the Quatuor Elmire quickly distinguished itself on the international scene by being awarded Second Prize at the prestigious Geneva International Chamber Music Competition, along with the Special Prize of the Etrillard Foundation for the most outstanding artistic project. The ensemble is also a laureate of the Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition in Copenhagen.

In 2025, the Quatuor Elmire received the “Musical Revelation of the Year” award from the French Critics’ Union, recognizing its 2024–2025 season. That same year marked the release of its debut album, a double disc devoted to Beethoven and his “Razumovsky” string quartets, released on the Scala Music label.

The Quatuor Elmire performs regularly in major international concert halls and festivals, including the Philharmonie de Paris, Geneva’s Victoria Hall, the Philharmonie Luxembourg, Frankfurt’s Alte Oper, the Tokyo International Forum, and the Grange au Lac in Évian.

The ensemble is currently in residence at the Fondation Singer-Polignac and the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, is part of the Génération Spedidam program, and is a laureate of the Fondation Banque Populaire.