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Ji-hoon Jun

Pianist Ji-hoon Jun entered the Bachelor's program at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg in Austria at the youngest age of 14 while studying at Yeowon School (where he received an honorary diploma and was recognized as an outstanding individual). At the age of 17, he graduated early with the highest honors (Mit Auszeichnung) in the Bachelor's program, accompanied by a scholarship. He then achieved the honor of graduating as the youngest with the highest distinction in the Master's program (Master-M.M) at the age of 19 and subsequently completed the Postgraduate program.
He then enrolled at the Universität der Künste Berlin, where he graduated from the Professional Performance program (Diplom) with the highest score (Note: 1.0). In 2012, he completed the Konzertexamen, the highest performance program at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK). After returning to Korea, he received a full scholarship for the entire duration of his studies as a Teaching Assistant in the Doctoral program at Seoul National University College of Music. In 2016, he obtained his doctorate with a dissertation titled "A Study of the Early Style of Wolfgang Rihm (1952-)."
In 2009, he began to make a name for himself by winning second place at the Vienna Beethoven International Piano Competition, becoming the first Korean to achieve this in 50 years. He also won first place at the Joseph Dihler Piano Competition in Vienna, and at the age of 17, he received third place and the youngest special prize at the Porto International Piano Competition in Portugal. Additionally, he qualified for the Yehudi Menuhin – Live Music Now audition and was awarded a scholarship. He further solidified his position by winning second place and the Scarlatti Special Prize at the Vladigerov International Piano Competition.
During his studies in Austria and Germany, he performed multiple solo and chamber music concerts, as well as collaborations at prestigious venues such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Salzburg Festspielhaus Festival, Mozarteum Grand Hall, Mirabell Palace Marble Hall, Steinway House, Fronburg Hall, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Kammermusiksaal, UdK Concert Hall, Yamaha Rising Artist Concert, Orff Institut Theater Saal, Mirabell Gardens Baroque Museum, and Mozarteum Wiener Saal. In 2006, he recorded a solo CD in Germany and released the album "Return to Love" in 2010. He also participated in the opening ceremony of the Salzburg Mozarteum National University (Tag der offenen Tür), garnering significant attention from local media.
In addition to the complete performance project of the Diabelli Variations with pianist Rudolf Buchbinder, he engages with audiences through various performances. He has participated in numerous collaborations and solo recitals, chamber music activities, as well as events such as the Korea International Music Festival, Grand Piano Concert, the Special Beethoven Series at the Arts Center, Arco Touring Concerts, Ditto Festival, Seoul National University’s New Music Series Studio 2021, Yellow Lounge Seoul, and Arts Concerts. He has collaborated in various chamber music performances with clarinetists Chen Halevi and Romain Guyot, the SNUA Ensemble, Timf Ensemble, Ditto Orchestra, and Ensemble 2021. Additionally, several duo performances with violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill have been broadcast on TV and radio, including SBS, KBS, and MBC. In 2015, he recorded an album with Richard Yongjae O’Neill under Universal Music, which was released by the world-renowned label Deutsche Grammophon. He participated in the CD recording "Studio 2021 – Nouvelles Etudes," organized by the College of Music at Seoul National University, and released the album in 2017. In 2023, he released three albums featuring representative Beethoven piano sonatas.
His collaboration with the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the renowned maestro Stefan Blunier, in the Musikverein Goldener Saal in Vienna received high praise, as it was broadcast live by Austrian national television ORF. He has also performed with several orchestras, including the Ukrainian National Symphony Orchestra, the National Orchestra of Portugal, the Munich University of Music Orchestra, the Mozarteum University Orchestra, the Korean Chamber Orchestra (formerly Seoul Baroque Ensemble), Suwon City Symphony Orchestra, Seongnam City Symphony Orchestra, Incheon City Symphony Orchestra, Cheongju City Symphony Orchestra, Gangnam Symphony Orchestra, Busan Opera Symphony Orchestra, New World Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hungarian Virtuoso Symphony Orchestra, the Kielce Symphony Orchestra in Poland, the "Cis" Chamber Orchestra in Austria, the Bad Reichenhall Symphony Orchestra, the Schumen State Philharmonic Orchestra, the KT Chamber Orchestra, the Ditto Chamber Orchestra, Trio "Z-Art," and the Amadeus Ensemble, actively engaging in chamber music performances and collaborations across Korea, Europe, the United States, and Australia. Since 2016, he has participated in the translation of Jürgen Uhde's book "Beethoven's 32 Piano Sonatas," which has been published four times.
In commemoration of the 190th anniversary of Beethoven's death, he successfully completed a solo concert series featuring all 32 of Beethoven's piano sonatas, which began in 2017, at the Lotte Concert Hall in 2021. He is currently dedicated to educating future generations at Seoul National University, Yeowon School, and Seoul Arts High School.