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Wha Kyung Byun,
pianist
 Wha
Kyung Byun was born and
educated in Korea, where she won several major competitions and was
chosen as one of the most talented young artists in the country. After
she made her debut recital at the age of 15, she appeared as soloist
with major orchestras and performed throughout her homeland. She
graduated from Seoul National University and was awarded the
Presidential Gold Medal. Since coming to the United States, Byun studied
piano at New England Conservatory with Russell Sherman and chamber music
with Rudolf Kolisch. Her playing has been described by Richard Dyer as
"rapturous" and "poetic."
Since 1979 she has taught at New England
Conservatory and dedicated herself to helping numerous students in their
development as both musicians and human beings.
She is the first recipient from the piano
faculty to have received the prestigious Lesser Award, which is given to
the most distinguished faculty at NEC. Also, she was the first recipient
of the Distinguished Educator Award from the Foundation for Chinese
Performing Arts. In 2013 she received the NEC Preparatory School's Jean
Stackhouse Award for excellence in teaching.
She is widely renowned as one of the most
successful teachers in America. Over the years, her students have been
prize winners in major national and international competitions.
B.A., summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa,
Seoul National University; M.M., New England Conservatory. Piano with
Russell Sherman, Won Bok Kim; chamber music with Rudolph Kolisch. |
