Elaine Kwon: Music Bio

 

 

CONCERT PIANIST: Hebert/Kwon piano duo, Co-founder of Sapphire Ensemble (2007) with Demetrius Spaneas, Member of Forecast New Music Ensemble, Member of Light and Sound Water Trio

EDUCATION:

DMA, Doctorate of Musical Arts in piano performance, highest honors, Boston University
MM, Master of Music in piano performance, highest honors and Distinction in Performance Award, New England Conservatory of Music
BM, Bachelor of Music in piano performance, highest honors and Academic All-American Award, University of Texas at Austin

Prize-winning pianist Elaine Kwon has performed solo and chamber music concerts throughout the US and internationally. She received standing ovations at her sold-out, 2008 Carnegie Hall debut concert in Weill Recital Hall as well as in her 2009/2010 season opening concerts as soloist with the Toronto Philharmonia Orchestra and the Finger Lakes Symphony. For 10 years she toured regularly as part of the Hebert/Kwon piano duo and has appeared on public television and radio in the US, China and Bulgaria.  As collaborative musician, she has presented highly-acclaimed performances of piano music combined with other art forms at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center Rose Studio, Angel Orensanz Theater and other venues. As a composer, she created an original score for the Shakespearean play, Corsetless, which recently toured through Ireland in 2009, after initial performances in New York City (Lincoln Center Rose Studio and Carnegie Hall) and Buffalo, NY. She is a member of the Forecast New Music Group, Light and Sound Water Trio (with violin and cello) and co-founder of the New York chamber music group, Sapphire Ensemble.

Elaine Kwon and Sandra Hebert have performed as a piano duo since 1996. Although they met in Boston, both are natives of eastern Washington State. They performed throughout the United States and were on tour in the People's Republic of China. In addition to concerts, they gave master classes and were guests on Chinese radio and were broadcast on television. In Boston they are regular guests on WGBH radio's "Classical Performances."

Elaine Kwon and Demetrius Spaneas (saxophone, clarinet, flute) concertized extensively between 1996-98. In 2007, they formed the chamber music group, Sapphire Ensemble in New York City. Recent concerts include performances at Lincoln Center Rose Studio, Yamaha Piano Salon, Knitting Factory, Tenri Cultural Institute, ICO Gallery.