Jeonghwan Kim first began playing the piano at the age of six. In the following years, his numerous first prizes in national competitions led to his admission to the Seoul Arts Center Academy for Young Talented Musicians at just nine years old. Moving to Berlin at the age of 11, he has continued to earn extensive recognition. Since 2017 he has been studying at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in the class of Professor Konrad Maria Engel. His former professors include Kyuhee Kim, Leda Kim and Thomas Just. He has also participated in masterclasses with Jakob Leuschner, Bob Versteegh and Robert Levin. Crucial influences on his artistic development include Stephan Imorde, Konstantin Heidrich, Stephan Forck and Jonathan Aner.
In 2022, Jeonghwan was awarded three prizes: in January, he won the 1st prize at the Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy competition in Berlin. Five months later, in June, he won the fourth prize and the audience prize at the Sendai International Piano Competition. In July 2023 he won the 1st prize along with two special prizes for his performance for the Bartok’s second piano concerto and the Best Overall Concerto Prize at the renowned Sydney International Piano Competition. Jeonghwan has performed with the Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin, with the Aarhus and Odense Symphony Orchestras, and has given concerts in major halls in Berlin, Weimar, Hamburg and Aarhus, among others.
Between 30 September and 22 October 2024, Jeonghwan Kim will be in concert in Adelaide SA, Bunbury WA, Perth WA, Wagga Wagga NSW, Canberra ACT, Bundanoon NSW, Gunnedah NSW, Tamworth NSW, Coffs Harbour NSW, and Sydney more information here.
He will also perform in Melbourne and Sydney with violinist Yeyeong Jenny Jin as part of the Young Virtuosi series. More info.