SAEHYUN KIM 김세현
South Korea I 16
“Leonard Bernstein once said that a great artist ‘leaves us with a feeling that something is right in the world,’ and similarly, Robert Schumann wrote, ‘To send light into the darkness of men’s hearts—such is the duty of the artist.’ Inspired by these artists’ words, I endeavor every day to create music that will reach out a consoling hand to the audience so that they feel understood and reassured in a turbulent world.”
Growing up in Seoul, Saehyun Kim made both his recital and concerto debuts in the capital city, in 2018 and 2019 respectively. He attended the Yewon School for two years and notable engagements during that timeframe include a performance with the Korean Symphony Orchestra and appearances on KBS Classic FM and JTBC Classic Today. He moved to Boston in 2021, where he studies piano with HaeSun Paik at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School and also attends the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. The last two years have seen four competition wins in the United States, at the Morningside Music Bridge International Concerto Competition, New England Conservatory Preparatory School Concerto Competition (Categories B and C), and the New York International Classical Music Competition; he is also a current Lang Lang International Music Foundation Young Scholar and last fall appeared on both the Lang Lang & Friends Virtual Concert and the organization’s Gala Concert. Saehyun is a member of the New England Tennis Academy (NETA) and has competed in USTA tournaments; he also heads the Table Tennis Club at his school.
REPERTOIRE
Preliminary Round
BACH Prelude and Fugue in E Major, BWV 854
SCRIABIN Etude in C-sharp Minor, op. 42, no. 5
SCRIABIN Etude in C-sharp Minor, op. 2, no. 1
LISZT Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H
Quarterfinal Round
HAYDN Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVI:42
RAVEL “Scarbo” from Gaspard de la nuit
CHOPIN Polonaise-fantaisie in A-flat Major, op. 61
Semifinal Round – Recital
BOLCOM Nine Bagatelles
LISZT Sonata in B Minor
Final Round – Concerto
CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, op. 11