Tae-Hyung Kim, who has been praised as “a pianist with the ability to create brilliant sounds and honest music”, and “who presents exquisite and flowing performance”, made his international debut in October of 2004 when he became the first Korean to receive 1st prize in addition to winning the Best interpretation Prize of Beethoven Sonata at the City of Porto International Piano Competition. In the same year, he received second prize in the Jeunesses Musicales International Piano Competition and was awarded in a number of prestigious competitions including Hamamatsu International Piano Competition in 2006 and Long-Thibaud International Competition in 2007. His superb feats continued in 2008, topping all others at numerous international competitions such as Interlaken Classics international Competition in Bern, Concours International de Musique du Maroc and Concours Grand Prix Animato. And in march 2013, he won the 1st Prize and the Audience Prize at the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition in Great Britain.
In 2010, he achieved fifth place at the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition of Belgium, which is widely acknowledged to be one of the top three major piano contests in the world, and captivated classical music fans home and abroad. Since then Kim has expanded his activities by performing with leading Korean orchestras like KBS Symphony Orchestra, Korean Symphony Orchestra, Korean Chamber Orchestra, and Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra, not to mention prominent international orchestras including Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo, National Orchestra of Belgium, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Porto National Orchestra, and Morocco Philharmonic Orchestra.
His solo debut performance was at the Kumho Prodigy Concert in 2000, and from then he was invited to give recitals for the Kumho Rising Star Series, Yamaha Rising Artist Series, Hoam Rising Star Series in Seoul. Tae-Hyung Kim’s exceptional performances continued worldwide with Seoul Spring Festival, Great Mountains International Music Festival, Yokohama International Piano Concert, Hamamatsu Piano Academy, Ishikawa Music Festival, Florence International Music Festival and Euro Music Festival in Leipzig, and has played in famous concert halls including Salle Pleyel, Salle Gaveau, Salle Cortot in Paris, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Handelsbeurs in Gent, Concertgebouw in Bruges. Dom Musiki in Moscow, or ]Philharmonia in St. Petersburg.
As one of the artists of Weinstadt Artist Management in Belgium, Tae-Hyung Kim has established his presence in Europe through several solo recitals in Belgium including Bruges SCOOP concert series, a recital at Handelsbeurs in Gent, or at Cultuurcentrum in Mechelen and Kortrijk Festival van Vlaanderen. He is also a valued member of the Kumho Asiana Soloists along with many other promising musicians of Korea. Kim also proudly served as Korea’s cultural ambassador by giving concert tours throughout Central Asia and performing at the UN Headquarters in Switzerland, all expressly invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korea Foundation.
Kim has also shown deep commitment and passion for chamber music. In 2011, once again under the invitation of the Korea Foundation, he went on overseas tours in Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Panama and gave stirring performances with Novus Quartet, one of Korea’s most accomplished string quartets. His extensive solo and chamber music performances have successfully proved his versatility and gave pleasure to fans all around the world.
Tae-Hyung Kim graduated summa cum laude from Yewon School, Seoul Arts High School and studied with Professor Choong-Mo Kang at Korean National University of Arts. After his graduation, he flew to Germany to complete Meisterklasse(Konzertexamen) in piano performance under guidance of Prof. Elisso Wirssaladze and Meisterklasse(Konzertexamen) in Liedgestaltung with Prof. Helmut Deutsch at München Hochschule für Musik und Theater. He is now studying at the Moscow State Conservatory named after P.I.Tchaikovsky under Elisso Wirssaladze, growing ever more in his profound understanding and sensitivity to music. Recognized as “a young pianist who knows how to interpret an entire piece” by world-renowned pianist Kun-Woo Paik, Tae-Hyung Kim is no longer a “young promising pianist” but fast becoming a “true musician” reaching out to show his flawlessly beautiful world of music.
