Performing Arts Houston Presents 2022 Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Yunchan Lim

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 20, 2022

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(Houston)- Performing Arts Houston has proudly presented winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition for over 50 years. This year, Yunchan Lim, the youngest gold medalist in the competition’s history, will perform on Thursday, October 18, at 7:30 pm at Cullen Theater, Wortham Center. Lim will perform works by Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Liszt on his one night only program in Houston. The 18-year-old from South Korea was named winner of the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition on June 18. Learn more at performingartshouston.org/cliburngold

“Yunchan is that rare artist who brings profound musicality and prodigious technique organically together.” said Cliburn Jury Chair, Marin Alsom.

Born in Siheung, South Korea, Lim started piano lessons at age 7 through an afterschool program at the Music Academy of the Seoul Arts Center. By age 13, Lim was accepted into the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts, where he met his teacher and mentor, Minsoo Sohn. He entered the international music stage a year later in 2018, winning second prize and the Chopin Special Award in his first-ever competition at the Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists. Also, that year, he stood out as the youngest participant in the Cooper International Competition, where he won both third prize and the audience prize and was provided the opportunity to perform with the Cleveland Orchestra.

2019 brought Lim more accolades, when, at the age of 15, he was the youngest to win Korea’s Isang Yun International Competition, taking home two special prizes. He has since performed across South Korea—including with the Korean Orchestra Festival, Korea Symphony, Suwon Philharmonic, and Busan Philharmonic Orchestras, among others—as well as in Madrid, at the invitation of the Korea Cultural Center in Spain. He also participated in the recording of “2020 Young Musicians of Korea,” organized by the Korean Broadcasting System and released that November.

Lim’s 2022–2023 inaugural tour as Cliburn winner will take him across four continents, with highlights including the Aspen Music Festival, La Jolla Music Society, and Performing Arts Houston in the United States; Seoul Arts Center, National Concert Hall in Taipei, and the KBS and Korean National Symphony Orchestras in Asia; Wigmore Hall and Fondation Louis Vuitton in Europe; and a recital tour in South America.

The pianist is set release his debut studio recording on the Steinway label. Speaking at a press conference after the competition, Lim said, “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 wanted my music to become deeper, and if that desire reached the audience, I’m satisfied.” He is currently in his second year at the Korea National University of Arts, where he continues to study with Mr. Sohn.

Since 1962, The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition has been held every four years in Ft. Worth, Texas to advance classical piano music throughout the world and launch the careers of its winners. The three-week competition spotlights the world’s top 18–30-year-old pianists who compete in front of a live audience as well as over 10 million viewers online. Beyond cash prizes, Cliburn medalists receive comprehensive career management, artistic support, and bolstered publicity efforts for the three years following their win. Honoring the mission of international piano icon and native Texan, Van Cliburn, the competition upholds the highest artistic standards with an enduring commitment to excellence and the discovery of new artists.

About Performing Arts Houston
For over 55 years, Performing Arts Houston has connected audiences with exceptional artists through diverse performances and learning experiences throughout Houston communities and schools. We welcome all to ignite and cultivate passion for the performing arts and explore the vast landscape of artistic expression to discover new understanding about ourselves, create community, inspire dialogue, and enrich our world. More at performingartshouston.org.

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PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON
presents

2022 Cliburn Gold Medalist, Yuchan Lim
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
7:30 pm
Cullen Theater, Wortham Center
Tickets start at $59
performingartshouston.org/cliburngold

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Media Contact:
Caroline Senter
csenter@performingartshouston.org
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