Four exceptional young Korean classical musicians are preparing to showcase the future of Korean classical music to European audiences through a special Benelux Tour in November 2025. The Korean Cultural Center in Belgium is hosting this significant cultural event, which will feature four accomplished soloists who have already made their mark on the international stage as laureates of major competitions.
The tour will feature violinist Dayoon You, violist Sejune Kim, cellist Woochan Jeong, and pianist Youl Sun, each of whom maintains active solo careers while coming together to create a seamless ensemble. Through their profound musical dialogue that transcends individual brilliance, these artists will breathe new life into masterworks by Mozart, Fauré, and Brahms, presenting what organizers are calling the capabilities and future of K-Classic music.
The program explores the narrative beauty of music through piano quartets by these three classical masters. These compositions represent some of the most intimate thoughts and emotions that the composers ever committed to paper, with every note serving as a powerful piece of storytelling that reaches directly to the audience. The timeless music will be reborn through the fresh perspectives of these young artists, promising to deliver an even more vivid and moving experience than traditional interpretations.
The tour will make four stops across the Benelux region and Luxembourg. Performances are scheduled for November 4, 2025, at Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, The Netherlands; November 6, 2025, at the Korean Cultural Center in Brussels, Belgium; November 8, 2025, at AMUZ in Antwerp, Belgium; and November 11, 2025, at Philharmonie Luxembourg in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.
The complete program includes W.A. Mozart's Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, K. 478; G. Fauré's Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15; and J. Brahms' Piano Quartet No. 3 in C minor, Op. 60. However, the November 6th performance at the Korean Cultural Center will feature only the works of Mozart and Fauré.
Violinist Dayoon You has garnered international attention through her impressive competition achievements, including Second Prize in the Violin division at the 2023 Long-Thibaud International Competition, an award at the 2024 Queen Elisabeth International Competition, and finalist status at the 2022 Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition. Beyond her solo and concerto appearances, You demonstrates deep passion for chamber music, evidenced by her First Prize win in the String Quartet division at the 2023 Salzburg Mozart Competition. She currently performs on a 1774 Guadagnini Turin violin, generously supported by the Kumho Cultural Foundation.
Violist Sejune Kim made history in 2018 as the first Korean to win Second Prize at the Tokyo International Viola Competition. He achieved another milestone in 2019 by becoming the first Asian appointed Principal Viola for life with Germany's renowned NDR Radiophilharmonie. His early soloist capabilities were proven through First Prize at the Jan Rakowski Competition and Second Prize at both the Tokyo and Hindemith International Competitions. As a founding member of the Abel Quartet in 2013, Kim achieved outstanding chamber music results, including becoming the first Korean to win Third Prize in the String Quartet division at the Geneva International Music Competition. Since 2024, he has also dedicated himself to nurturing young talent as a faculty member at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media.
Cellist Woochan Jeong emerged as a rising star through his laureate status at the prestigious 2022 Queen Elisabeth International Competition. Having debuted at age ten, Jeong demonstrated exceptional skill from childhood and has distinguished himself in numerous national and international competitions. His achievements include Second Prize at the 2022 Isang Yun International Competition and Fourth Prize at the Paulo International Cello Competition. Beyond solo and concerto engagements, he shows deep passion for chamber music as a member of the Eden Quartet. Jeong currently performs on a Giovanni Paolo Maggini, Brescia c.1600 instrument, generously supported by the Kumho Cultural Foundation.
Pianist Youl Sun represents the next generation of artists who possess both unique technical brilliance and profound musicality. In 2024, he achieved an impressive triple crown, including First Prize, at the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, and was co-winner of the Seoul International Music Competition in the same year, confirming his musical stature. His European recognition includes Second Prize at the 2023 Viseu International Piano Competition and a laureate prize at the Maria Canals International Music Competition. Sun demonstrates great passion for chamber music through his co-founding of the Harang Piano Duo with fellow pianist Jae Sung Bae, with whom he performs continuously. He is currently supported by the arts program of the Chung Mong-Koo Foundation.
This cultural initiative receives support from the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) as part of the Touring K-Arts project, highlighting the Korean government's commitment to promoting Korean classical music on the international stage.
