2025 Preliminary Round — San Francisco Regional, CA
Date: June 7th, 2025
Location: San Francisco Conservatory of Music
200 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102
Application Fee:
—Early Bird: $175
—Regular: $180
Important Date:
April 1, 2025 - Applications Submission Deadline (Early Bird)
May 1, 2025 - Applications Submission Deadline
June 7, 2025 - San Francisco Regional Competition
June 7, 2025 - Finalists announced
August 6, 2025 - Final Round Competition (San Francisco)
August 7, 2025 - Awards Ceremony
Meet the San Francisco Jury
Get to know the distinguished members of our jury, each bringing a unique perspective and wealth of experience to this year’s competition.
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South Korean-born pianist Hyewon Chang’s musical journey has seen her grace stages of international renown, including the Weill Concert Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich, and the historic birthplace of Franz Joseph Haydn in Rohrau, Austria. Additionally, her performances have resonated through Rolston Hall at the Banff Centre and across numerous venues in America, captivating audiences with her profound musicality and technical prowess.
She has performed with the Camerata München, LA Korean American Musicians’ Association Orchestra, engagements such as the “Artists of Tomorrow” concert with the Brentwood Westwood Symphony Orchestra, as well as performances with the Culver Symphony Orchestra. She has been invited to Chopin Masterclasses, a collaboration with The Fryderyk Chopin Institute at Cornell Center for Historical Keyboards. She has performed in numerous masterclasses with world-renowned artists, including Leon Fleisher, Menahem Pressler, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Dang Thai Son, and Olga Kern, among others.
Aside from her solo career, Chang participated in Chamber music collaborations such as the Colburn Chamber Music Society concert with Denis Bouriakov, principal flutist of the LA Philharmonic. Her leadership and artistic vision have been instrumental in her role as the artistic director of the Aegio International Piano Competition for the California/Los Angeles region.
She has participated in competitions, including first prizes in Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition, Orbetello International Piano Competition, Clara Schumann International Piano Competition, ICA International Piano Competition, and Korea’s Segye-Ilbo Music Competition, second prizes from American Protégé Piano Competition, and Seoul Young Artist Music Competition. Also, she made it to the finalist and semi-finalist stages for New York International Piano Competition, Dallas International Piano Competition, and Thailand International Piano Competition.
Chang has attended The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto on a full scholarship, followed by obtaining a Bachelor of Music degree from the Colburn School and a Master of Music degree from the USC Thornton School of Music. She studied under the tutelage of renowned pianists John Perry, Ick Choo Moon, and Jeffrey Kahane. Currently, she is continuing and pursuing a Doctoral of Musical Arts at USC Thornton School, and she is a staff pianist at the Colburn Conservatory of Music.
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Dr. Julian Jaeyoung Kim is hailed as a marvelous virtuoso whose performances embody a deep sense of commitment and a relentless curiosity to uncover the true essence of the music.
Throughout his career, Julian has displayed exceptional artistry and technical prowess, captivating audiences with his soulful interpretations and remarkable command of the piano. His journey in the world of music has taken him to renowned competitions, such as the Edvard Grieg International Piano Competition in Norway, where he showcased his outstanding abilities and left a lasting impression on both judges and listeners.
Julian's dedication and talent have garnered him numerous accolades and prizes in international piano competitions. Notably, he has achieved first prizes in esteemed competitions such as the Orbetello International Piano Competition and the "Citta di Barletta" International Piano Competition in Italy. His exceptional performances have earned him second prize in the Juliusz Zarębski International Piano Competition in Poland and the "Citta di San Donà di Piave" International Piano Competition in Italy. Furthermore, Julian has advanced as a finalist or semi-finalist in prestigious competitions, including the Pietro Argento International Piano Competition, Verona International Piano Competition, George Gershwin International Piano Competition, Seattle International Piano Competition, and Campillos International Piano Competition.
Julian's career has been defined by awe-inspiring solo performances, serving as a platform to demonstrate their extraordinary virtuosity and musical prowess. Among the remarkable venues that have hosted Julian's talents are the renowned Ehrbar Saal and Mozarthaus in Vienna, Austria; the enchanting Troldhaugen Concert Hall in Bergen, Norway; the esteemed Teatro Jofre in Ferrol, Spain; the prestigious Bellini Theatre in Catania, Italy; and the esteemed G. Rossini Theatre in Pesaro, Italy. Furthermore, Julian's captivating artistry has deeply moved audiences in distinguished settings like Carnegie Hall City of New York, USA.