A double Second Prize winner at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in 2011 and at the 13th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009, Yeol Eum Son’s graceful interpretations, crystalline touch and versatile, thrilling performances have caught the attention of audiences worldwide.
Praised for her widely eclectic concerti repertoire, ranging from Bach and all-Mozart to Shchedrin and Gershwin, her recent concerto highlights include appearances with the Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, Konzerthausorchester Berlin and Bergen Philharmonic under the baton of Dmitrij Kitajenko, a debut Paris date with Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and Mikko Franck, Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra under Valery Gergiev, Seoul Philharmonic and European tour with KBS Symphony Orchestra.
In the 2017/18 season, Yeol Eum makes distinguished UK debuts in Birmingham with the CBSO and Omer Meir Wellber (Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21) and London’s Cadogan Hall with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (Mozart Piano Concerto No. 8 and 21). Further significant debuts beyond 2017/18 season include appearances at Grafenegg Festival with The Tonkunstler Orchestra (Mozart Piano Concerto No.20) and Dresdner Philharmoniker (Prokofiev Piano Concerto No 2) under Dmitrij Kitajenko; Orchestre de la Suisse Romande under Susanna Mälkki (Mozart Piano Concerto No 23); Budapest Festival Orchestra under Dmitrij Kitajenko (Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2); NHK Symphony Orchestra (Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1) and Moscow’s House of Music with Moscow Virtuosi under Maestro Spivakov (Mozart Piano Concerto No. 13 and 21).
A sensitive, emotional and powerful pianist, Yeol Eum gives frequent solo and chamber music performances around the world. In the current and future seasons, significant recitals include returns to the Helsingborg Piano Festival, Fribourg International Piano Series and debuts in Duisburg, Szczecin, East Neuk Festival and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in the UK, San Francisco Chamber Music Society and The Phillips Collection in Washington DC in the States.
In the recording studio, spring 2018 will see the release (Onyx) of her recording of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21. In February 2016, Yeol Eum released a new DECCA album, Modern Times, featuring solo piano music written between 1910–1920 by Berg, Prokofiev, Stravinsky and Ravel. Her discography also includes her debut CD of complete Chopin Etudes (2004), Chopin Nocturnes for Piano and Strings (2008); prize-winning Cliburn Competition live performance (2009) and a multi-channel SACD O’ New World Music (2012).
Yeol Eum Son was a student of Arie Vardi at the Hochschule für Musik Theater und Medien Hannover in Germany, where she now lives. She holds a degree from the Korean National University of Arts. Yeol Eum is an honorary ambassador of the Seoul Arts Center and her home city of Wonju.
