Sahun (Sam) Hong

Country – United States
Age – 27

Praised as an “artist of enormous prowess” (Verbier Festival Newsletter) with “lots of clarity, confidence, and wisdom” (New York Concert Review), pianist Sahun Sam Hong brings his colorful style and riveting energy to the solo, chamber, and concerto stages.

Hong was the winner of the 2017 Vendome Prize at Verbier and received second prize at the 2017 International Beethoven Competition in Vienna. He was also a recipient of a 2021 American Pianists Award, and a finalist for the 2018 International German Piano Award and 2017 American Pianists Awards.

On the roster of Young Steinway Artists since 2010, Hong has been featured as a guest soloist with orchestras including ORF (Vienna, Austria), Milwaukee, Indianapolis, and Camerata New York. He has performed in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the Vienna Musikverein, Église de Verbier, Merkin Hall, and the Kennedy Center.

In addition to performing, Hong is a prolific arranger of chamber music and orchestral works. His creative transcriptions are performed all over the world, and the chamber music collective ensemble 132 presents Hong’s innovative arrangements on annual tours throughout the United States.

At the age of 16, Hong graduated magna cum laude from Texas Christian University (TCU) with a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance, studying with John Owings. He also studied for six years with Leon Fleisher at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. Hong continues his studies with Yong Hi Moon at the Peabody Institute.

Repertoire

Round I

Mozart                      Sonata No. 4 in E-flat major, K. 282

Chopin                       Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31

Round II

Chopin                       Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 55/2

Beethoven                Variations and Fugue in E-flat major (“Eroica Variations”), Op. 35

Round III

Kirchner                    Interlude II

Ravel                          Sonatine

Brahms                      Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel in B-flat major, Op. 24

Round IV

Rachmaninoff          Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18