Sunwoo Yekwon performs for his mentoring project for young Korean pianists

Pianist Sunwoo Yekwon will join a mentoring project for young Korean pianists as artistic director of the "Korean Young Pianist Series." His special concert on Aug. 26 at Myeongdong Cathedral is part of the project. Courtesy of Jino Park

By Anna J. Park

Pianist Sunwoo Yekwon, one of the most sought-after Korean pianists on the international stage, is slated to perform a special concert at Myeongdong Cathedral in central Seoul on Aug. 26.

The winner of the 15th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2017, the most prestigious piano competition in North America, will present Schubert's "4 Impromptus, D 935" and Chopin's "24 Preludes, Op. 28" during the 75-minute concert, without intermission.

It is rare that the Myeongdong Cathedral, the church for the Archdiocese of Seoul, has given the green light for artists to perform there. But Sunwoo's special concert is part of a joint social mentoring project in which he is collaborating with the Catholic Church to give emerging classical musicians scholarships and opportunities to perform.

As Artistic Director of the "Korean Young Pianist Series," Sunwoo, 30, handpicked seven young pianists ― all recent award winners ― including Lim Ju-hee and Lee Hyuk, both 19, offering his mentorship and a stage for performance.

Sunwoo's performance on Aug. 26 will open the concert series. It will be followed by solo recitals by the gifted seven up-and-coming pianists at Myeongdong Cathedral's Familia Chapel from September to next March. All admission ticket profits from Sunwoo's August concert will be donated for scholarships for the seven pianists.

Lim Ju-hee will take the stage for her solo recital on September 23, followed by the other pianists, including Lee Hyuk, winner of the 10th International Paderewski Piano Competition, on Oct. 28, and Lee Taek-gi, 21, winner of Hastings International Piano Competition, on December 23. Lim Yun-chan, the second-prize winner in the Cleveland International Piano Competition, will perform the last concert of the series on March 30.

Sunwoo hopes to provide further help and advice to the young pianists during and after the concert series. The star Korean pianist attended the Yewon School and continued his musical studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, the Julliard School and the Mannes School of Music. He now studies under Bernd Goetzke in Hanover.

Sunwoo has won first prize in eight international piano competitions, including the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2017, the Sendai International Music Competition, the Florida International Piano Competition and the Interlaken Classics Competition.?