Award-winning Korean pianist Dr. Sohee Kwon is celebrated for her artistry, exquisite pianism, and profound sensitivity. She has garnered top honors in major international competitions, including the First Prize at the 2020 MTNA Chamber Competition and the Second Prize at the 2020 Fischoff National Chamber Competition.
An avid soloist and chamber musician, Dr. Kwon has performed in prestigious venues and series worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, Beethoven-Haus Kammermusiksal (Bonn), Chamber Music International, ATX Chamber Music and Jazz, Mid America Performing Alliance, Sarasota Music Festival, Austin Chamber Music Center, Beerthoven Concert Series, Salon Concert Series, and Classical Sound. Recognized for her refined artistry and exceptional collaborative skill, Sun News Austin praised her ability to “provide a cohesive thread to the performances throughout the evening,” highlighting her “impeccable timing, fusing soft and bold bursts of sound.”
Dr. Kwon’s versatility extends to music arrangement, with her adaptation of Piazzolla’s Three Preludes for Piano Trio, originally written for piano solo. Served as her doctoral thesis at UT Austin, it was premiered by her group, Trío En.
Dr. Kwon earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance at the University of Texas at Austin under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Brownell. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Manhattan School of Music and Rutgers University, studying with Daniel Epstein and Dr. Min Kwon, supported by a presidential scholarship. She graduated with the Elizabeth Wyckoff Durham Award for Excellence in Keyboard Performance. She then earned her Master’s degree at Rice University under Jon Kimura Parker as a full scholarship recipient.
An active educator and passionate advocate for chamber music, Dr. Kwon serves on the faculty of the Austin Chamber Music Center and the International Summer Music Institute at the University of North Texas. She has been frequently invited to present guest lectures, masterclasses, and performances at institutions such as Rutgers University, University of North Texas, University of Kansas, and University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
In 2024, Dr. Kwon founded Chamber on the Move, a curated house concert series in Austin to bring high-quality chamber music to intimate settings while fostering collaborations with local and emerging artists.