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Sunwook Kim

Piano, Conductor
Music Director, Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra

  • Since winning the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition in 2006 at the age of 18, Sunwook has established a reputation as one of the finest pianists of his generation, appearing as a concerto soloist in the subscription series of some of the world’s leading orchestras including the Berliner Philharmoniker, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, Chicago Symphony and the NHK Symphony. Alongside his career as a pianist Sunwook has a rapidly developing profile as a conductor and has built long and meaningful relationships with top orchestras as a guest conductor as well as being Music Director of the Gyeonggi Philharmonic in Korea since 2024.

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  • As a soloist, Sunwook enjoys close relationships with renowned conductors including Daniel Harding, Paavo Järvi, Myung-whun Chung, Marek Janowski, Sir Mark Elder and Jakub Hrusa. Recent highlights include an extensive tour of Europe and Korea play-directing Beethoven concerti with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, with concerts at Lotte Concert Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, Salle Philharmonique de Liege, Halle Aux Grains, Toulouse and the Barbican, London. Other recent concerto highlights include concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra (Michael Tilson Thomas), Los Angeles Philharmonic (both with Nathalie Stutzman and as part of the Seoul Festival curated by Unsuk Chin), and Netherlands Radio Philharmonic (with Chief Conductor Karina Cannellakis). In November 2025 he will work once again with the Berlin Philharmonic as their soloist for their tour of Korea under Kirill Petrenko.


    The 24/25 season has seen Sunwook continue his role as Music Director in Gyeonggi, conducting works from Mozart and Beethoven to Strauss, Bartok and Unsuk Chin, and working with soloists including Vadym Kholodenko, Marc Bouchkov and Clara-Jumi Kang. He made his conducting debut with the orchestra in June 2023, and was immediately announced as their next Music Director.


    As a guest conductor, Sunwook Kim regularly appears with the Seoul Philharmonic, with whom he has conducted wide ranging repertoire including Strauss’ Tod und Verklärung and Der Rosenkavalier, as well as Beethoven’s Symphony No.9. He has also made highly successful debuts with the Israel Philharmonic leading to an immediate re-invitation and the with Iceland Symphony Orchestra. He enjoys a close relationship with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, who he has conducted on numerous occasions and in 25/26 will lead in Stravinsky, Mozart and Beethoven, joined by pianist Elisabeth Brauss. Future conducting highlights include concerts with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Enescu Philharmonic, Taipei Symphony and the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano.


    As a recitalist Sunwook appears on the world’s finest stages including Wigmore Hall, Philharmonie de Paris, Symphony Hall Osaka and Seoul Arts Centre, and also collaborates regularly with fellow Intermusica artist and life partner Clara-Jumi Kang, and with Janine Jansen.


    He has an extensive recording catalogue, including concerto discs with the Seoul Philharmonic (Deutsche Grammophon) and Staatskapelle Dresden (Accentus), both led by Myung-whun Chung, and in 2023, the Berliner Philharmoniker released a new box of recordings of works by Unsuk Chin, highlighting their collaboration with the over the past 20 years. The Piano Concerto was performed by Sunwook, conducted by Sakari Oramo.


    Born in Seoul in 1988, Sunwook completed an MA in conducting at the Royal Academy of Music and was subsequently made a fellow (FRAM) of the Royal Academy of Music in 2019.

    2025/26 season / 534 words. Not to be altered without permission.

Performances

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"He transcends and elevates the challenges of the score, able with a mere glance to temper the ardour of a clarinet, or with a lift of the cheekbones to urge on the violas." ★★★★★

Bachtrack, March 2025

"a pitch-perfect account, sensitive to every filigree detail and changing mood, every subtle shift as well in the relationship between soloist and orchestra."

The Times, May 2024

"a brilliant pianist at the height of his powers"

Seen and Heard International, May 2023

Intermusica represents Sunwook Kim Worldwide

Bridget Emmerson
Deputy Chief Executive / Joint Head of Artist Management
+44 20 7608 9916

Daniel Cummings
Artist Manager
+44 20 7608 9943

Anna Sutton
Assistant Artist Manager
+44 20 7687 8717

All artists

Contralto

Avery Amereau

Actor / Narrator

Amira Casar

Chansonnier

HK Gruber

Harpsichord

Richard Egarr

Piano accompanist

Roger Vignoles