Contestant

Born in South Korea, pianist Gahyun Kim began playing the piano at the age of six.
She studied with HeeSung Joo at Seoul National University before earning her Master of Music degree from the Peabody Institute under Benjamin Pasternack. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Miami under the guidance of Santiago Rodriguez.
Gahyun has captivated audiences worldwide with her performances in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Bösendorfer Hall, Sala dei Notari, Steinway Gallery, and Seongnam Arts Center. She has collaborated with orchestras across the United States, Italy, and South Korea, including the Philharmonians Seoul Orchestra, SNUGO Orchestra, Music Fest Perugia Orchestra, and most recently, the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she performed as a winner of the EMF Concerto Competition.
Gahyun has won top prizes in numerous international and national competitions, including: Second Prize at the Wideman International Piano Competition, Second Prize at the New York International Classical Music Competition, First Prize at the EMF Concerto Competition, the Germany-Korea Brahms Association Competition and Korea-Asia Piano Open Competition. Recognized for her artistic excellence, Gahyun is a recipient of the Korean Honor Scholarship, supported by the Korean Government and the Korean Embassy in the U.S., as well as the Korean American Scholarship Foundation.
Gahyun is also deeply engaged in multidisciplinary and thematic performances. She participated in a special project at Moa Museum in Seoul, where she performed George Crumb’s “Makrokosmos II” in its entirety, merging music with visualized video art to create a synesthetic experience. Passionate about Alexander Scriabin’s music, she performed at the International Scriabin 150 Festival, participating in a masterclass, and taking part in a Scriabin complete works series, where she performed Scriabin’s Deux Poèmes, Op. 72.
Gahyun’s artistry has been shaped by participation in esteemed festivals such as the Eastern Music Festival, International Scriabin 150 Festival, Music Fest Perugia, International Summer Academy, and Busan Music Festival. She has had the privilege of working in masterclasses with some of the world’s most distinguished pianists, including Jerome Lowenthal, Gabriela Montero, and Oliver Kern. With her commanding technique, artistic sensitivity, and innovative approach to performance, Gahyun Kim continues to establish herself as a compelling and visionary pianist on the international stage.