BIOGRAPHY

A rising star in the world piano scene, Saehyun Kim has received unanimous acclaim since his triumph at the 2025 Long-Thibaud Competition. With a blazing touch, striking maturity, rare presence, phenomenal technique, and musical intelligence, Saehyun Kim is an unstoppable force, already emerging as one of the great piano figures of tomorrow.

Hailed as “an exceptional artist …. who, for the space of a concert, transcends himself” (Diapason), 19-year-old pianist Saehyun Kim is praised for his “stunning profusion of colors” that juxtaposes “a touch of unbelievable delicacy” and a sense of “dramaturgical construction” (Le Figaro).

Kim won the first prize and three special prizes (Audience Prize, Prize of the Press Jury, and Prize of the City of Paris Conservatories) at the 2025 Long-Thibaud International Piano Competition, as well as the first prize and two special prizes (Audience Prize and Junior Jury Prize) at the 2023 Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists.

His recent and forthcoming performances include orchestral collaborations with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Tokyo Philharmonic, Latvian National Symphony, Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille, KBS Symphony, Korean National Symphony, One Korea Orchestra, Sendai Philharmonic, Canton Symphony, North Mississippi Symphony, Arkansas Philharmonic, among others, under the direction of Myung-Whun Chung, Andris Poga, David Molard Soriano, and Steven Byess, to name a few, as well as recitals at the La Roque d’Anthéron Festival, Flagey Brussels, Fondation Louis Vuitton, Duszniki International Chopin Piano Festival, Festival Radio France Occitanie Montpellier, Nieuwe Kerk – The Hague, Piano à Lyon, Nohant Chopin Festival, Ehrbar Saal, La Folle Journée Tokyo, Seoul Arts Center, Lotte Concert Hall, and more.

Kim’s debut recital at the Parc du Château de Florans as a part of the La Roque d’Anthéron International Piano Festival was met with critical acclaim, Le Monde praising that his “pianistic abilities are superlative, his touch elegant and profound, the phrasing infinitely nuanced, and the sense of narrative undeniable.” He gave televised performances in front of both the Arc de Triomphe (Le concert de la paix) and the Eiffel Tower (Concert de Paris); both performances were viewed by an audience of millions.

Cette saison, Saehyun Kim est l’invité des festivals de Radio France Montpellier, La Chaise-Dieu et Nohant. Following his studies at the Seoul Arts Center Music Academy and the Yewon School under Soojung Shin, professor emeritus at Seoul National University, and Youngmi Choi, professor at Seoul National University of Education, Kim moved to the U.S. He continued his musical training at Walnut Hill School for the Arts and the NEC Preparatory School, studying with HaeSun Paik, faculty at New England Conservatory.

After graduating from both institutions as a recipient of the 2024 Arnold C. Taylor Award for Academic and Artistic Achievement at Walnut Hill and the Piano Department Award at NEC Prep, Kim enrolled in the prestigious Harvard/NEC dual degree program in the fall of 2024. Currently, he is studying with Dang Thai Son and HaeSun Paik. Kim is an exclusive recording artist of the Warner Classics label, and his debut solo album, featuring works by Chopin and Fauré, is scheduled for release in 2026.

PRESS QUOTES

«An exceptional artist …. the definition of a great performer: one who, for the space of a concert, transcends himself»
Bertrand Boissard – Diapason

“An emerging major artist, combining phenomenal technique with outstanding musical intelligence and sensitivity.”
Emmanuel Andrieu – Classic News