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B i o g r a p h y

Kisun Sung

Music Director, Jeonju Symphony Orchestra

Kisun Sung is appointed to music director of Jeonju Symphony Orchestra in 2022 and recently extended his contract until 2025. During his tenure as the music director of Gangnam Symphony in Seoul from 2016 to 2020, he communicated with the audience through his conducting and commentary of numerous performances. He also worked hard to improve the orchestra's playing level through the performance of a wide repertoire from classics and romantic to contemporary music.
In commemoration of diplomatic relations between Korea and Turkey he was invited to conduct Presidential Symphony in Ankara in 2017. He also conducted the Szeged National Symphony Orchestra in Hungary in 2019.
Since his formal conducting debut at age 17, conductor and violist Kisun Sung has conducted many ensembles around the world including the National Symphony (Washington, D.C.), New Jersey Symphony, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Carlos Chavez Sinfonica, New Amsterdam Symphony, Philharmonische Staatsorchester Halle, Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey, Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged, Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra, Nova Filarmonia Portguesa and most of the important Korean orchestras including KBS Symphony and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. He was invited by Daniel Barenboim to be Apprentice Conductor of the Chicago Symphony where he rehearsed the ensemble and worked extensively with the maestro. He was the youngest participant and second place winner at the Pedro Freitas de Branco conducting competition in Lisbon, Portugal, with a prize that included an invitation to lead four performances with the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra. An accomplished violist, Mr. Sung has performed extensively as a viola soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra player. He played principal viola under Leonard Bernstein at the Pacific Music Festival in Japan. He earned degrees from the Curtis Institute, the Juilliard School and Seoul National University. From 2000 to 2006, he served as the faculty member of the Juilliard School. As a result of his artistic achievement, he was awarded the “Young Artist of the year Award” by the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2004. From 2009 to 2012, he was in charge of four years of performances as Principal Conductor of the 『Young People's Concert』 series presented by the Seoul Arts Center. He has served as a Music Director of New York Sinfonetta, and a visiting professor at Cornell University. He is currently a professor of music at Ewha Womans University of Music.
He enjoys Zen meditation and believes that music is one of the strongest God-given tools that can unite people and bring peace to the world.
 
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