Sejeong J
Instruments: Piano, Keyboard
Styles: Classical, Gospel
Sejeong J
Instruments: Piano, Keyboard
Styles:
Classical, Gospel
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 5-73
DMA, University of Cincinnati, Piano Performance and Chamber Music MM, Illinois State University, Piano Performance BM, Sookmyung Women's University, Piano Performance and Leadership
1st place, American Protege International Piano & Strings Competition: Perform in Carnegie hall, NY. (2016) Tied 2nd place of Liszt-Garrison International Competition, Baltimore, MD (2015) Graduate Incentive Award from College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, OH (2014) Honorable Mention in MTNA Young Artist Competition, Chicago, IL (2013) Recepient of Sookmyung Women's University Alumni Scholarship, Seoul, South Korea (2013) Scholarship recepient of Kindom Dreamer, Anaheim, CA (2013) Alternate Illinois State Winner in MTNA Young Artist Competition (2012) Graduated top in Piano Performance from Sookmyung Women's University College of Music, Seoul, South Korea (2010) Winner of Brahms Competitions, Seoul, South Korea (2010) Scolarship recepient from Chungbuk Human Resource Development Foundation, CheongJu, South Korea (2009, 2010) Winner of Eumak Chunchu Competition, Seoul, South Korea (2009) Scholarship recepient from Salt-pan Corperation, Seoul, South Korea (2008) Entered as Top student for Sookmyung Women's University College of Music , Seoul, South Korea (get a full scholarship) (2007) Piano Exam Excellence Award, Sunhwa Arts High School, Seoul, South Korea (2006)
I am a Korean-born pianist and I began playing the piano at the age of 5. I entered and graduated at the top in piano performance from Sookmyung Women's University College of Music (2010) where I earned bachelor's degree in Piano Performance with Special Honor's Leadership Program. After finishing studies in Korea, I received full scholarships with graduate assistantship from Illinois State University for master's degree and received scholarship for Doctoral Musical Arts studies from College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. I am currently writing doctoral dissertation titled "A Performer's Guide to the Prepared Piano of John Cage: The 1930s to 1950s." to complete DMA program by December 2018. I had the privilege of learning from great teachers including Awadagin Pratt, Joshua Russell, and Hyejeon Lee. I was also coached with Ariel Quartet for chamber music and performed in masterclasses for Aviram Reichert, John O'Conor, Min-kyung Kwon, Boaz sharon, Yong-hee Moon, Alexander Korsantia and Yoshikazu Nagai, among many others. As a solo artist, I achieved success in both national and international competition. I placed first in American Protégé International Competition in which I was invited back to perform Liebermann's Gargoyles as a first prize winner at Carnegie Weill recital hall in New York. I placed second in Liszt-Garrison International Competition in Baltimore, MD., and I was selected as an Alternate Illinois State Winner and Honorable mention at MTNA Young Artist Competition in 2012 and 2013. Additionally, in South Korea, I won many awards from Eumak-Chunch, Brahms, CBS competitions. I was invited as a rising artist to many renowned concerts series such as 74th ChosunIlbo Debut Concert, Youngsan Grace Hall Talented Youth Recital, and Royal 20's concert. Furthermore,I featured as a one of the artists in sister relation anniversary concert with Royal Academy of Music. Lastly, I actively performed Mozart Piano Concerto K. 467 as a soloist with Seoul National University Orchestra and Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4 with Sookmyung Women's University Orchestra at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. Frequently playing with my siblings in piano trios deepened my appreciation for ensemble music. Even in elementary school my sisters and I would hold family concerts from which the proceeds would be donated to orphanages. Some of these concerts were featured by local television. These benefit performances continued in college where I would perform with my sisters for the children at House of Hope, an orphanage in Korea and continued to Charity Concert at Blair House Senior Independent Living Community IL. In the area of Bloomington-Normal in Illinois, I actively participated in community services such as the benefit concert for India Kuki tribe with ISU colleague and Christmas Eve concert at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center. Now, my vision is to wholly devote my life to reach out to students, children, teens, and hurting people in order to help restore their dreams and hopes. My identity "Sejeong, the pianist to inspire life" leads me strongly now.
I grew up with my mom who owned a piano studio for twenty years. I've watched my mother teach many students in various level. Learning music is an important part of my childhood memory which I cherish. I began teaching piano from 2007 in South Korea and continued teaching students in USA when I came here to further my studies in Piano. I helped students who are preparing for entrance exam to College of Music and I also taught piano and theory for K-12 students. Additionally, I visited Germany Musikschule to research music education which was sponsored by my undergraduate university. I encourage my students to enter competitions and recitals to develop them as independent artists. I enjoy teaching not only classical music but also church music and other styles that help students learn and enjoy music.
I use various methods to help students become independent artists and I take pleasure in discovering the most effective method to approach each student. First, I take an intellectual approach when students learn a new piece. I expect students to understand historical background of composer and piece before they actually read music notes. This approach allows students to develop appropriate stylistic interpretations and to articulate their own thoughts. During lesson time, I always ask students how they want to lead performance in music. This will help students become better story teller through music once they realize how they want to lead a performance. Each student has different way to build up their own musical capability and artistry. I firmly believe when I give the opportunity and knowledge, students can cultivate a powerful message through music. I also design activities to learn collaboration with others in order to strengthen student's sight-reading, score reading, and ear training. This will also provide various experiences with other musicians which will enable students to broaden artistic perspective. I always want students to find a connection between themselves and outside of world.
The essence of my teaching comes from the faith and love that exist inside music and students' potential. Music is the universal language that has a powerful connection to every aspect of life, and I believe anyone can build relationship through music. In the diverse universe we live, music provides unity, liveliness, hope, and love to connect to a different world and people. I want to inspire, encourage, and help students who will connect others through music. My objectivities as a teacher come from the strong statement, "a teacher's purpose is to help students to find their own vision and image". In my teaching, I always start from the question "why?" Why does a student want to learn music? Helping students understand his or her own reason will become the spiritual nourishment that will prepare them as independent human beings and artists. My experience has taught me that deeply understanding self-motivation drive students beyond their comfort zone and cultivate self-identification. I want students to understand who they are and to picture their own goal and path with a strong statement.
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