Saehyun Kim

Hailed as “an exceptional artist .... who, for the space of a concert, transcends himself” (Diapason), 19-year-old pianist Saehyun Kim is praised for his “stunning profusion of colors” that juxtaposes “a touch of unbelievable delicacy” and a sense of “dramaturgical construction” (Le Figaro). Kim won the first prize and three special prizes (Audience Prize, Prize of the Press Jury, and Prize of the City of Paris Conservatories) at the 2025 Long-Thibaud International Piano Competition, as well as the first prize and two special prizes (Audience Prize and Junior Jury Prize) at the 2023 Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists. 

His recent and forthcoming performances include orchestral collaborations with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Tokyo Philharmonic, Latvian National Symphony, Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille, KBS Symphony, Korean National Symphony, Sendai Philharmonic, Canton Symphony, North Mississippi Symphony, Arkansas Philharmonic, among others, under the direction of Myung-Whun Chung, Andris Poga, and David Molard Soriano, to name a few, as well as recitals at the La Roque d’Anthéron Festival, Flagey Brussels, Fondation Louis Vuitton, Duszniki International Chopin Piano Festival, Festival Radio France Occitanie Montpellier, Nieuwe Kerk - The Hague, Piano à Lyon, Nohant Chopin Festival, Ehrbar Saal, La Folle Journée Tokyo, Seoul Arts Center, Lotte Concert Hall, and more. 

Kim’s debut recital at the Parc du Château de Florans as a part of the La Roque d’Anthéron International Piano Festival was met with critical acclaim, Le Monde praising that his “pianistic abilities are superlative, his touch elegant and profound, the phrasing infinitely nuanced, and the sense of narrative undeniable.” He gave televised performances in front of both the Arc de Triomphe (Le concert de la paix) and the Eiffel Tower (Concert de Paris); both performances were viewed by an audience of millions. 

Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Kim was trained by Soojung Shin and Youngmi Choi until he moved to the U.S. to continue his musical training with HaeSun Paik at Walnut Hill School for the Arts and the New England Conservatory Preparatory School. In the fall of 2024, he enrolled in the prestigious Harvard College/New England Conservatory dual degree program, which combines studies in English at the former institution with piano performance at the latter. Based in Boston, Kim is currently studying with esteemed pianists Dang Thai Son and HaeSun Paik. He is a scholar of the Theo and Petra LIEVEN International Piano Foundation.

Kim is an exclusive recording artist of the Warner Classics label, and his debut solo album, featuring works by Chopin and Fauré, is scheduled for release in 2026.