South African music lovers will have the opportunity to experience an extraordinary musical journey as acclaimed Korean oboist Kyeong Ham prepares for his debut tour of the country in October 2025. The internationally recognized musician, widely regarded as one of the most talented and engaging oboists of his generation, will perform alongside esteemed local musicians in three major South African cities.
Kyeong Ham currently serves as principal oboist of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and has established himself as one of the most gifted oboists of his generation through numerous prestigious international achievements. His impressive competition record includes being joint winner of the ARD International Music Competition in Munich in 2017, and capturing first place at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory International Winds and Percussion Competition in Moscow in 2010. He also received the Iris Marquardt Prize in 2010 and won the International Academic Oboe and Bassoon Competition in Łódź in 2011.
The oboist's most notable achievement came in 2013 when he won First Prize at the Muri International Oboe Competition in Switzerland. At this competition, Ham demonstrated his exceptional talent by also receiving the Audience Prize by a wide margin and the special Heinz Holliger Special Prize, which was presented by the renowned musician Heinz Holliger himself.
The South African tour will consist of three carefully selected performances across different venues and cities. The first concert will take place on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at 11:00 AM as part of the Toyota Woordfees in Stellenbosch. This performance will be held at the Standard Bank Endler Hall, located at the corner of Victoria Street and Neethling Street in Stellenbosch Central.
The second performance is scheduled for Friday, October 17, 2025, at 5:00 PM in Pretoria as part of the Korean Cultural Centre's "Music on Stage" series. This intimate concert will take place at the Korean Cultural Centre itself, situated at 267 Waterkloof Road in Brooklyn, Pretoria. The final performance will conclude the tour on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 2:00 PM in Johannesburg, where Ham will perform with the Gauteng Philharmonic Orchestra at the SABC M1 Auditorium, located at the corner of Stanley and Henley Road in Auckland Park.
All three concerts will offer free admission to the public, making this exceptional musical experience accessible to a wide audience. However, registration is required for attendance, and interested concertgoers can register through the provided online form at https://forms.gle/iiKVjYxnVJqnYZR87. For additional information and inquiries about the performances, organizers encourage the public to contact them at 012 001 9204 or reach out via email at kcc@sakorea.kr.
