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
May 15, 2025 - New 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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“Her interpretation is clear, precise lines and contours, powerfully revealing their architecture, always rhetorical.” –Pizzicato
“Stellar technical command, musicality, and poise.” –TexturaSouth Korean-born pianist Hyewon Chang has consistently demonstrated exceptional artistry and technical skill, captivating audiences with her deeply expressive interpretations. Her musical journey has seen her grace stages of international renown, including the Weill Concert Hall at Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert 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, Olga Kern, among others.
As a recording artist, in 2024, the Parma Recordings/Navona Records released her debut album, Fantasie Reflections. This work features the three Fantasias by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the Fantasie in C, Op. 17, by Robert Schumann. The album has been receiving laudatory reviews from prominent publications.
Besides her solo career, Hyewon has 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 rounds for the New York International Piano Competition, Dallas International Piano Competition, and Thailand International Piano Competition.
Hyewon attended The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto on a full scholarship. She then earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Colburn School, followed by both a Master of Music degree and her Doctor of Musical Arts from the USC Thornton School of Music. During her studies, she studied under the tutelage of renowned pianists and conductor Jeffrey Kahane, John Perry, and Ick Choo Moon. Currently, she serves as the chair of CAPMT District IX Piano Festival and is a staff pianist at the Colburn Conservatory of Music.
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“Julian’s flexible and intelligent interpretations reflect his command over rhythmic tension and tonal detail, evoking echoes of masterful pianists like Nelson Freire.”
–GramophoneJulian Jaeyoung Kim, a South Korean-born pianist, is hailed as a marvelous virtuoso. His performances embody a deep sense of commitment and a relentless curiosity about uncovering the true essence of music. These qualities have earned him critical acclaim and recognition in prestigious international piano competitions and concert venues worldwide.
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 also earned him second prizes in the Juliusz Zarębski International Piano Competition in Poland, Paul Badura-Skoda International Piano Competition in Vienna, the "Citta di San Donà di Piave" International Piano Competition, the Ischia International Piano Competition, and the "Citta di Sarzana" 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, Neapolitan International Piano Competition, George Gershwin International Piano Competition, Seattle International Piano Competition, Ricard Vines International Piano Competition, and Campillos International Piano Competition.
Julian Jaeyoung Kim, as a Bechstein Artist, has captivated audiences worldwide with performances that combine technical brilliance, emotional depth, and artistic sensitivity. As part of the prestigious Bechstein Concert Series, Julian has performed in numerous cities, including Frankfurt, Nürnberg, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Berlin, Paris, and Manchester, showcasing their exceptional talent on the finest instruments.
Julian's artistry has graced some of the world’s most iconic venues. Highlights include performances at Ehrbar Saal by C. Bechstein in Vienna, Austria, and the renowned Klavierhaus in New York City, USA. Julian’s talent has been celebrated in Norway at the Kabuso Art Center and the historic Troldhaugen Concert Hall in Bergen. Other notable European performances include appearances at the Teatro Jofre in Ferrol, Spain, the Bellini Theatre in Catania, and the G. Rossini Theatre in Pesaro, Italy.
Julian’s connection to Germany has been influential, with memorable performances at the Olberg Kirchengemeinde and the Ev. Apostel-Paulus Church in Berlin, and Palais Lichtenau in Potsdam. Julian has brought their artistry to life in the United Kingdom at venues such as St. Marylebone Parish Hall in London.
Julian has left an indelible mark in Italy with performances at the Villa Sandra Hall in Milano, the E.F. Dall’Abaco, and the Nuovo Montemezzi Auditorium in Verona. Their artistry has also resonated with audiences at prestigious North American venues, including Steinway Hall, Loewe Theatre, Opera America Hall in New York City, and the Gateway Theatre in Vancouver, Canada.
Beyond Europe and North America, Julian has charmed audiences in the Netherlands with performances at the Lutherse Kerk Hall in Haarlem, the Remonstrants Kerk Hall in Alkmaar, the Slot Hall in Schagen, and the Ruinekerk Hall in Bergen. In Finland, their talent was celebrated at the Mäntän Klubi Hall in Mänttä.
As a recording artist, in 2023, the label KNS Classical released his debut album, Brahms Resonances. This work features an exquisite selection from Johannes Brahms' oeuvre, including the Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5, and the intricately structured Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35 Books I and II. The album garnered widespread acclaim, receiving laudatory reviews from numerous prominent publications in the classical music sphere, including Gramophone, InterludeHK, Klassik Huete, and Fanfare.
In 2024, he signed a contract with Hänssler Classic, a distinguished label in the classical music world. His album, featuring an array of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, is slated for release under this prestigious imprint. C. Bechstein and Bärenreiter sponsor this project.
He completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music in 2024. His principal teachers included Matti Raekallio, Jeffrey Swann, Bernadene Blaha, Angela Cheng, and Eteri Andjaparidze. Julian is a C. Bechstein Artist and Bärenreiter ambassador.