HANNAH BYUN
COUNTRY — Canada
AGE — 24
HOST FAMILY — Pam Horrisberger

Born to a Korean family, Hannah Byun spent her childhood in Canada, starting her piano studies with Dianne Werner at the age of ten. She attended the Yewon School for the Arts in South Korea where she studied with Na Young Kim. Her studies continued at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts (Natick, Massachusetts), where she met her current teacher, Wha Kyung Byun.

While attending the Young Arts Performance Academy at the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto, Canada), she won first prize at the Music Education News Competition, the Journal of Music Competition, and the Hansei University/Kukmin Newspaper Competition. Most recently she won the Concerto Competition at The New England Conservatory, leading to a performance of the Ravel Piano Concerto with James Somerville in Jordan Hall.

As an active soloist, Hannah has performed at Symphony Hall in Boston, Weill Recital Hall, and Jordan Hall among others. Internationally, she has given recitals at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, Mazzoleni Hall, Remenyi Hall, and the Youngsan Art Hall. Hannah has also presented numerous chamber performances at Jordan Hall, Symphony Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Keiter Center for the Arts and Williams Hall. She has also performed at the Euro Music Festival, the World of Music Festival, and the 27th Young Musicians Festival Concert for Winners in Korea.

Hannah is currently pursuing a master’s degree at The New England Conservatory under the guidance of Wha Kyung Byun and Russell Sherman.

Professional training

New England Conservatory of Music (United States)
Royal Conservatory of Music (Canada)

Recent awards

2013  New England Conservatory Concerto Competition (1^st prize)

Repertoire

Round I
Mozart                                          Rondo in D major, K. 485
Franck                                           Prélude, chorale et fugue, FWV 21

Round II
Boulez                                           Douze Notations
Beethoven                                     Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110

Round III
Bach                                               Partita No. 4 in D major, BWV 828
Schumann                                     Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 11

Round IV
Schumann                                      Concerto in A minor, Op. 54