SunwookKim

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  • Conductor
  • Piano

About Sunwook

Sunwook Kim is an artist of rare talent and ability. Building on two decades performing at the highest level as a pianist, he has emerged as a conductor in increasing international demand - an artist whose sensibility as a performer has helped to shape his direction on the podium.

In the 26/27 season Sunwook will make his subscription debut conducting the Rotterdam Philharmonic in a programme of Mozart and Dvořák. He continues to play-direct concerti and conduct symphonies in a single programme with the BBC Philharmonic, London's Royal Philharmonic and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the latter pairing Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto with Mahler's Fourth Symphony. Sunwook regularly play-directs the Beethoven concerti, most recently on an extensive tour of Europe and Korea with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, with concerts in Berlin, London, Toulouse, Eisenstadt, and Seoul.

In 2027, he makes his conducting debut with London's Philharmonia Orchestra on tour to Korea. He recently debuted with the Bamberger Symphoniker, the Israel Philharmonic, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, receiving several immediate re-invitations. He also regularly leads the Seoul Philharmonic, Bournemouth Symphony, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano, George Enescu Philharmonic and Taipei Symphony.

Since winning the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition in 2006 at the age of 18, Sunwook originally established a reputation as one of the finest pianists of his generation, appearing as a concerto soloist in the subscription series of some of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Berliner Philharmoniker, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, Chicago Symphony and the NHK Symphony.

As a soloist, Sunwook enjoys close relationships with renowned conductors including Daniel Harding, Paavo Järvi, Myung-whun Chung, Marek Janowski, Sir Mark Elder and Jakub Hrůša. In 2025 he returned with the Berliner Philharmoniker as their soloist for their tour of Korea under Kirill Petrenko, playing Schumann’s Piano Concerto to outstanding reviews.

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Contact

For availability and enquiries

Daniel Cummings

Daniel Cummings

Senior Artist Manager

For contacts, logistics and press

Anna Sutton

Anna Sutton

Assistant Artist Manager

Representation

Worldwide general management with Askonas Holt

Partner Managers:

Amati (Japan)

Sang-Hyun Lee (Korea)

Furno Musik (Italy)

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Season Highlights

Nov 2026
Rotterdam, De Doelen
Mozart: Don Giovanni, Overture Mozart: Concerto for Flute and Harp in C major, K.299 - Dvořák: Symphony No.7 in D minor, Op.70 Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (conducting) Juliette Hurel (flute) Albane Baron (harp)
Nov 2026
Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op.37 - Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.1 in G minor, Op.13, 'Winter Dreams' BBC Philharmonic Orchestra (play-direct, conducting)
Nov 2026
City Hall Concert Hall, Hong Kong
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op.37 - Beethoven: Symphony No.6 in F major, Op.68, 'Pastorale' Hong Kong Sinfonietta (play-direct, conducting)
Jan 2027
Seoul Arts Center, Seoul
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.1 in F minor, Op.2 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op.13 'Pathétique' Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.11 in B flat, Op.22 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.26 in E-flat major, Op.81a Seoul Beethoven Sonata Cycle Recital 1 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.2 in A Major, Op.2, No.2 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.18 in E-flat major, Op.31 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.24 in F-sharp major, Op.78 'à Thérèse' Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.25, Op.79 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op.57 'Appassionata' Seoul Beethoven Sonata Cycle Recital 2
Feb 2027
Théâtre de Beaulieu, Lausanne
Brahms: Piano Concerto No.1 in D minor, Op.15 Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne Renaud Capuçon (conductor)
Feb 2027
Cadogan Hall, London
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.1 in C major, Op.15 Smetana: The Bartered Bride, Overture - Dvořák: Symphony No.8 in G major, Op.88, B.163 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (play-direct, conducting)
Mar 2027
National Concert Hall, Dublin
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.4 in G major, Op.58 - Mahler: Symphony No.4 in G major National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland (play-direct, conduct) Ava Dodd (soprano)
Mar 2027
Seoul Arts Center, Seoul
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.3 in C Major, Op.2 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.19 in G Minor, Op.49 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.10 in G Major Op.14 No. 2 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.21 in C Major, Op.53 “Waldstein” Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycle Recital 3 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.4 in E-flat major, Op.7 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.27 in E minor, Op.90 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major Op.106 'Hammerklavier' Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycle Recital 4

Video

Photos

News

Press

  • Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4 & No.5

    Queen's Hall, Edinburgh: City Halls, Glasgow
    Oct 2026

    • Sunwook Kim mesmerises as pianist and director of Beethoven’s Fourth and Fifth Piano Concertos... The lyricism and fragility [of his playing] were dominant, with Kim all the while guiding the orchestra with astute nods or gentle gestures, and occasionally with a momentary free hand. The way in which [Kim] handled the challenge of conducting from the keyboard was quite phenomenal.

    • Kim's dialogue with the orchestra had a warm intimacy... [he] delivered a poignant account of the heart-wrenching slow movement, one of Beethoven’s most moving, and took the finale across the finishing line with irrepressible joy and energy.

  • Bamberger Symphoniker (conducting)

    Konzerthalle, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal, Bamberg
    Apr 2026

    • [Kim] not only took up the baton but shaped the evening with such elegance, dedication, and passion that applause and great enthusiasm erupted after the very first piece... His mastery of transitions and sense of dramaturgy—both in large structures and fine detail—stood out. Every turn was convincing, contrasts sharply defined yet integrated into the whole.

  • Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano (conducting)

    Auditorium di Milano Fondazione Cariplo, Milano
    Apr 2026

    • In his dual role as soloist and conductor, Kim demonstrates a keen attention to the orchestral direction. His eyes often on the musicians, he doesn't dictate the orchestra's pace with his instrument, but immerses himself in it, becoming part of it. The result is that this Beethoven sounds very well-integrated, with particular attention to the colors and interweavings of the piano with the other instruments, in a harmony that seems far beyond what is usually achieved by a guest conductor with limited rehearsal time. Kim's handling [of Rimsky-Korsakov] was smooth and precise, careful not to lose sight of the overall picture of a palette that the Milan Symphony Orchestra rendered rich with vivid and delicate colors in all its nuances."

  • Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne (conducting)

    Théâtre de Beaulieu
    Mar 2026

    • Schumann's Symphony No. 2, performed in the second half, further revealed this conductor, who embraced the orchestra wholeheartedly, from memory, in hypnotic and feverish meanderings and movements, teetering on the edge of despair or drama.

  • Berliner Philharmoniker / Schumann Piano Concerto in A Minor

    Seoul Arts Center
    Nov 2025

    • In Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Sunwook Kim transferred his experience as a conductor to the keyboard. Rather than pushing himself forward, he listened across the orchestra and steered the balance... Kim restrained the pedal so inner parts could circulate, and at times leaned slightly behind the beat to frame a phrase. His line never lost focus and a mild tension lingered between soloist and orchestra...The cadenza served the argument and the closing, with its march profile, gathered itself naturally. *****

Discography