YUNCHAN LIM 임윤찬
PIANOApple Music Global Ambassador
![230605_YunchanLim_0077_R2 © James Holecrophm](https://imgartists.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/230605_YunchanLim_0077_R2-©-James-Holecrophm.jpg)
YUNCHAN LIM 임윤찬
PIANO
Apple Music Global Ambassador
ABOUT
“A one-in-a-million talent.” – Dallas Morning News
“I made up my mind that I will live my life only for the sake of music, and I decided that I will give up everything for music… I want my music to become deeper, and if that desire reaches the audience, I’m satisfied.” – Yunchan Lim
Since becoming the youngest person to ever win gold at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at the age of 18 in 2022, Yunchan Lim’s ascent to international stardom has been meteoric. His performances showcase a “magical ability” and a “natural, instinctive quality” (La Scena) that astounds listeners around the world. Marin Alsop, who conducted the 2022 Cliburn Final said, “Yunchan is that rare artist who brings profound musicality and prodigious technique organically together.”
His audacious performance of Liszt’s Transcendental Etudes “created a buzz throughout the international piano community” (Gramophone), and his appearance with Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 delivered the defining moment of competition, as one critic noted: “The applause that followed was endless: a star had emerged before our eyes” (Seen and Heard International). The video of Yunchan’s Rachmaninov performance trended globally on YouTube in the days after and has now become the most-watched version of that piece on the platform, amassing well over 10 million views. The New York Times later listed it as one of the Top 10 Classical Music Performances of 2022.
In the year following his Cliburn win, Yunchan made successful orchestral debuts with the New York Philharmonic at the Lincoln Center, and Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, as well as Chicago Symphony, Lucerne Symphony, KBS Symphony, and Tokyo Symphony orchestras, among others; and recital debuts at the Wigmore Hall, Het Concertgebouw, Suntory Hall, and Seoul Arts Center.
His 23/24 season highlights include orchestral debuts with the Royal Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Hungarian Radio Symphony, Boston Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Seoul Philharmonic, and Sendai Philharmonic orchestras, Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France, and Orchestre de Paris. Recital highlights include appearances at Carnegie Hall, Verbier Festival, and Gstaad Festival, among other major stages.
SHOW MORE
Yunchan Lim is an exclusive Decca Classics artist. In April 2024, Yunchan released his debut studio album, Chopin Études Opp.10 & 25, worldwide on Decca Classics. His previous releases include his Billboard- charting Van Cliburn performance of Liszt’s Transcendental Études (Steinway & Sons, 2023); Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” (Deutsche Grammophon, 2022); and is featured on KBS’s 2020 Young Musicians of Korea album, performing a selection of works by Beethoven and Liszt. Yunchan was named an Apple Music Classical Global Ambassador in January 2024.
Born in Siheung, Korea, Yunchan Lim began piano lessons at age 7. He entered the Music Academy of the Seoul Arts Center the next year, and quickly became immersed in his musical studies. He auditioned for and was accepted into the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts at age 13, where he met his teacher and mentor, Minsoo Sohn. A year later, in 2018, he captured international attention when he won both Second Prize and the Chopin Special Award in his first competition: the Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists. That same year, he won both the Third and Audience prizes at the Cooper International
Competition, which also provided him the opportunity to perform with The Cleveland Orchestra. In 2019, aged only 15, he became the youngest person to win Korea’s IsangYun International Competition, where he also took home two special prizes.
Following two years at the Korea National University of Arts, Yunchan is currently studying at the New England Conservatoire in Boston with his teacher Minsoo Sohn.
RECENT PRAISE
THE NEW YORK TIMES
ZACHARY WOOLFE
There was, in his performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, the juxtaposition of precise clarity and expansive reverie; the vivid scenes and bursts of wit; the sense of contrasting yet organically developing moods; the endless and persuasive bendings of time — the qualities that tend to characterize night time wanderings of the mind.
THE TIMES
RICHARD MORRISON
With 15 of Bach’s keyboard sinfonias, Lim weighted the counterpoints so perfectly, and deployed such a subtle metrical flexibility, that every inner detail seemed to be imbued with a character of its own.
EVENING STANDARD
BARRY MILLINGTON
The sighing phrases of the Dowland were transmuted into subtly coloured, immaculately voiced arcs, while the Bach miniatures were imaginatively dispatched with a different mood or temperament for each – jaunty, good-humoured, pensive and so forth – ending with a poignant reading of the F minor, with its anguished chromaticisms.
FINANCIAL TIMES
KEVIN NG
His debut with the New York Philharmonic showed that he is an artist capable of considerably more than the usual technical fireworks. Not that the pyrotechnics weren’t there — he attacked Rachmaninov’s imposing chords with ferocity and clarity, and took the octaves in the coda finale with reckless abandon.
Lim was at his best in the quietermoments of the piece, voicing Rachmaninov’s long melodies with elegant restraint. He took the piece at a deliberate, almost trance-like pace, with judicious rubati that made the piece sound fresh.
SF CLASSICAL VOICE
ELIJAH HO
here is no substitute for rare talent, and 18-year-old Yunchan Lim of South Korea is, indeed, the real deal…when the young South Korean is in his element, there are few sounds more ravishing in the world.
CLASSIC FM
Lim stormed his way through the finale of Rachmaninov’s mighty work, as Marin Alsop attentively directed the orchestra in keeping with the young pianist’s impressive pace. Alsop could be seen nodding in approval as Lim expertly transitioned from dramatic cadenzas to the sweeping Romantic themes that Rachmaninov is known and loved for.
NEWS
Yeol Eum Son Wins Grand Prize and Yunchan Lim New Artist Prize at South Korea’s Prestigious Daewon Music Awards
Pianists Yeol Eum Son and Yunchan Lim are honoured at South Korea’s prestigious Daewon Music Awards. Son is named the Grand Prize winner for her outstanding achievements in the domestic and international music arts scene. Lim, who received the 2020 scholarship from the foundation, wins the New Artist Prize for
Decca Classics Celebrates Yunchan Lim’s Chopin: Études with Listening Party – Friday, 19 April
Yunchan Lim’s Decca Classics debut, Chopin: Études, is available worldwide from Friday, 19 April. The hotly anticipated recording will be unveiled during a listening party on release day at 8am ET / 1pm BST / 9pm KST. To receive the link, sign up for Yunchan Lim’s newsletter at yunchanlimofficial.com/newsletter Click
Announcement Regarding Yunchan Lim European Concerts 27 March – 10 April
Yunchan Lim is experiencing a strain in his hand. He is currently undergoing treatment with his doctor and physical therapist. It is therefore with profound regret that he must withdraw from his forthcoming concerts under his doctor’s orders. This will allow the injury time to heal and to protect against
“This was virtuosity as life force” – Yunchan Lim’s Dazzling Carnegie Hall Debut
Yunchan Lim made his hotly anticipated Carnegie Hall debut on Wednesday, February 21, thrilling audience and critics. His virtuosic performance of Chopin’s 27 études, inspired a rapturous response, as The New York Times’ Zachary Woolfe reports: “It was that rare occasion on Wednesday: There was an encore at Carnegie Hall.
YUNCHAN LIM’S DECCA CLASSICS DEBUT – THE CHOPIN ÉTUDES, OP.10 & OP.25 – AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW
FIRST SINGLE – “OP. 10 NO. 3 ‘TRISTESSE'” – AVAILABLE NOW Yunchan Lim, one of the most talked-about classical artists on the planet right now, announces the release of his debut studio album, Chopin Études via Decca Classics, on 19th April 2024. Hailed as a “One-in-a-million talent” (Dallas Morning News)
Apple Music Artist Ambassador Yunchan Lim Kicks off 2024 with Milestones in Korea, Japan and The US
Yunchan Lim kicks off 2024 with major events in Korea, Japan and the US. On 25 and 26 January, he opened the Seoul Philharmonic’s season, performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 73 “Emperor” under conductor Jaap van Zweden. Hot off his announcement as global Apple Music “Artist Ambassador”, Yunchan
Yunchan Lim Named Artist Ambassador as Apple Music Classical Now Available in Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan
Yunchan Lim is announced as a newly appointed Artist Ambassador for Apple Music Classical. Apple Music Classical, the standalone app designed specifically for classical music, is now available in Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Beginning today, Apple Music subscribers can download and enjoy the Apple Music Classical app as part of their
Congratulations to our 2024 ICMA Nominees!
IMG Artists would like to congratulate our 2024 International Classical Music Awards Nominees! The finalists will be announced by 11 December. The winners of the prestigious ICMA Awards will be revealed on 18 January 2024. The Award Ceremony and Gala concert will take place at the Palau de la Musica
AFTER A GLOBAL RACE DECCA CLASSICS SIGNS YUNCHAN LIM
Decca Classics is delighted to announce the exclusive signing of South Korean pianist Yunchan Lim, after following him across the globe for his much sought-after signature. International record company executives travelled to Tokyo, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, London, New York and Seoul to meet with Yunchan and bring him to the
Yunchan Lim Makes New York Philharmonic Debut May 10 – 12
Yunchan Lim makes his hotly anticipated New York Philharmonic debut May 10-12. He will perform Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with conductor James Gaffigan. “A one-in-a-million talent” (Dallas Morning News), Yunchan Lim captured international acclaim with his Gold Medal triumph at the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. His performances showcased a “magical ability”
CONTACT
FEDERICO BENIGNI
GENERAL MANAGER
+39 3270074258
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NICHOLAS MATHIAS
GENERAL MANAGER
+44 (0) 20 7957 5800
EMAIL
MOLLY MCFADDEN
SENIOR ASSISTANT ARTIST MANAGER
+44 (0)7442 627 611
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