Euntaek Kim, piano
Program: A polaroid piano journey into nature and pathos, with incantations of all that is beautiful and supernatural — including the world premiere of Euntaek Kim’s Sonata for Piano, whose subject is inspired by the beauty and the history of Cold Spring, NY, and Prokofiev’s Sonatas No. 2 and No. 8.
Artist Biography: Hailed by The New York Times as “nimble” and “colorful,” the American pianist and conductor Euntaek (ET) Kim is receiving worldwide recognition for his unique and ambitious work.
Hailed by The New York Times as “nimble” and “colorful,” the American pianist and conductor Euntaek (ET) Kim is receiving worldwide recognition for his unique and ambitious work.
Born in Incheon, South Korea in 1987, ET found joy in conducting along audio recordings as a young child. When he was three years old, he received a violin as a gift from his uncle, acclaimed artist and activist Gilchun Koh, but the violin soon proved incompatible for him. His violin teacher suggested piano lessons, for which he developed an immediate love.
At nine years old, ET was accepted to the Preparatory Division of the Korean National University of Arts. At eleven, he was accepted with the highest distinction to the Yewon School of the Arts, the premiere historical art school in South Korea. At twelve, ET presented his first solo recital, as part of the “Prodigy Concert Series” by The Kumho Cultural Art Foundation, and was reviewed favorably by the Dong-Ah Il-bo, one of the major newspapers in South Korea.
In 2001, ET emigrated to the United States and continued his piano studies at The Juilliard School. He forged an invaluable mentorship with Jerome Lowenthal, a legendary pianist who studied with William Kapell, Eduard Steuermann, and Alfred Cortot. ET’s education under Lowenthal encompassed not only elements pertaining to piano, but also the French language, literature, and philosophy – Sartre, Camus, Proust, among many.
There were many other mentors at Juilliard who influenced ET. From the fortepianist Audrey Axinn, he learned the art of the historically informed performance. Under the guidance of Seymour Lipkin and Joseph Kalichstein, he developed a deep love for chamber music. During his eight years at Juilliard, ET was involved actively in the contemporary music scene, premiering many works by the composition department, as well as working closely with the school’s contemporary ensembles led by Jeffrey Milarsky and Joel Sachs.
After receiving the bachelor’s and the master’s degrees at Juilliard, ET continued his piano studies at Yale University under Boris Berman — the first pianist to record the complete solo piano works of Sergei Prokofiev. Berman’s vigorous and critical teaching showed him the necessity for aesthetic precision and discipline in his artistic endeavors, and introduced him to the musical application of the Stanislavskian method.
Since earning his Artist Diploma degree at Yale in 2013, ET has held a busy performing schedule. He has made solo appearances in Belgium, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, and the United States. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with members of the Enso, Escher, Parker, and Ying quartets. In recent years, ET’s involvement with Heartbeat Opera’s “FIDELIO!” was praised by The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Los Angeles Times. His appearance at the Green-Wood Cemetery catacomb in Brooklyn, NY, as part of the world premiere of David Hertzberg’s chamber opera The Rose Elf, was lauded by WQXR as “the best opera event of 2018.”
ET’s performances can be heard on his debut solo album, “Debut – CME Presents Vol. 3: Russian Piano,” “Hertzberg: The Rose Elf,” and “The Wake World.” His ongoing project is to record the complete solo piano works of Sergei Prokofiev, with a slated completion by 2028.
ET’s orchestral conducting endeavors continue to unfold. In 2021, he was invited to participate as a fellow in the International Conducting Workshop and Festival, which took place in Lviv, Ukraine. He worked closely with the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine, under the tutelage of Maestro Carl St. Clair, the artistic director of The Pacific Symphony.
ET spends his leisure time cooking, lifting weights, reading, learning foreign languages, or cuddling with his Japanese Chin (not all at the same time).