Pianist Yoonji Kim has been hailed by both critics and the public for her uncanny combination of poetic sensibility and exuberant virtuosity. Before becoming a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2016, she had already enjoyed successes at international competitions, such as top prize at the Prague Spring International Music Competition in 2011, and prizes at Cologne International Music Competition, Steinway Prize Berlin, and Artur Schnabel Competition in Berlin. She has also performed at numerous international festivals with orchestras such as Prague Philharmonia, the Orchestre Royale de Chambre de Wallonie and the Belgium National Orchestra under the baton of distinguished conductors like Paul Meyer, Marin Alsop and Charles Olivieri-Munroe.

 

Born in Seoul, Korea, Yoonji Kim began playing the piano at age four and attended the pre-college division of the Korea National University of Arts, where she also completed her undergraduate studies. She began showing promise early on in her native country by winning several national competitions; her success at the KBS National Music Competition in 2010 led to performances with the KBS Philharmonic Orchestra.