The Whole Note Podcast

Gaeun Kim, a 20-year-old cellist based in New York, has been spotlighted as an outstanding virtuosic performer and a winner of numerous competitions worldwide. Her journey began with winning both the first prize and the special award at the Antonio Janigro Competition in Zagreb, Croatia at her age of 10. She has also secured first prizes in the Liezen International Competition, David Popper International Cello Competition, East Coast International Competition. Gaeun is recognized as one of “26 Representative Stars in the Culture & Arts Industry of the Republic of Korea,” a “Samsung Foundation Rising Star,” and as one of the six winners of the ‘Classe d'Excellence de Violoncelle,' led by Gautier Capucon. She performed as a Louis Vuitton Foundation Artist until 2021. From 2023, she has been invited as a jury member at the “World's Biggest Stage International Competition.” Her most recent accolades include receiving the First Prize at the 2024 Schadt String Competition, First Prize and Honor Award at the 2024 France International Competition, First Prize at the 2023 New York Young Artist Award, First Prize and the Pablo Casals Special Award at the 2022 Irving M. Klein International Competition. She was one of the top prizewinners at the 2023 Paulo International Cello Competition and 2024 Koussevitzky Young Artist Awards, and is scheduled for numerous concerts around the world through the upcoming season. In the 2023-24 season, Gaeun will make concert appearances in major halls worldwide, including solo performances in Germany, Switzerland, Korea, New York, Boston, Michigan, San Francisco, Palo Alto, St. Thomas, Poland, and others. Her engagements include performances with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Lahti Sinfonietta, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Santa Cruz Symphony Orchestra, Peninsula Symphony Orchestra, Master Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra, and Long Island Philharmonic Orchestra. She will also participate as a featured cellist and invited chamber musician at festivals such as “The Seoul Spring Music Festival,” “Music in the Vineyards,” “Water Island Music Festival,” “Moritzburg Festival,” and the “Jupiter Symphony Chamber Series.” Nationally, Gaeun has won first prizes in numerous competitions, including the Seoul Classic Music Competition, the Music & Chunchu Competition, the Little Mozart Competition, the Yewon Competition, the Youngsan Music Competition, the Sungjong Music Competition, and the Ehwa & Kyunghyang Competition. She has also received the Shinhan Music Award, the Yewon Music Award, and the Director Award from the Korean National Institute for Gifted in Arts. Her performance highlights include concerts for the Queen of the Belgians and the First Lady of the Republic of Korea, participation in the Antonio Janigro Cello Festival, and appearances at the Asian Forum of Legislative Information Affairs, CBS's 17th Anniversary Celebration Concert in Jeju Island, and various other prestigious events. As a soloist, she has played with ensembles like the Zagreb Soloists, the Euro-Asian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Long Island Philharmonic Orchestra, Master Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra, the Suwon Symphony Orchestra, and many more. Beyond the stage, Gaeun has been featured on radio programs and TV shows including From the Top, MBC, KBS Radio, C Channel, and others. She has also appeared in major music magazines such as The Strad, New York Concert Review INC, and Music Journal. A proponent of contemporary music, she has performed and recorded premiere pieces by composers such as Gloria Justen, Julian Gargiulo, Seounyun Kim, Jacky Liu, Nichagarn Chiracha-rasporn, Yuxuan Lin, and more. Currently studying at The Juilliard School under Richard Aaron as an honorary scholarship recipient since 2020, Gaeun is an ambassador for Jargar Strings. Her educational background includes studies at Yewon School, Seoul Arts High School, and Korea National University of Arts.