Dr. Jiwon Han

South Korea-born pianist Jiwon Han was raised in a family of musicians, fostering his deep connection to music from an early age. At the age of eight, his debut performance drew attention when he appeared as a soloist with Korean Philharmonic Orchestra in 1997 performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K.488. That same year, he gave his first solo recital at the Incheon Culture and Arts Center, marking the beginning of a distinguished performing career. Since then, he has graced nearly all major concert venues across Korea and continues to appear on international stages throughout Japan, France, Germany, Italy, England, Portugal, and the United States.

 

Dr. Han has garnered widespread acclaim through numerous national and international competitions. In Korea, he claimed top prizes at esteemed events such as the Dong-A Music Concours, Joongang Music Concours, Sungjung Cultural Foundation Competition, and the Korean American Scholarship Foundation Music Competition. Internationally, his artistry has been recognized with major awards from the ISANG YUN International Competition, Virginia Waring International Competition, Teresa Carreño International Competition, Weatherford International Piano Competition, and the Franz Liszt Center International Competition. His discography includes two solo albums, Debut and Romanticism, along with two collaborative recordings: Bach-Schubert, a live performance with violinist Zia Shin, and Works by German Composers with violinist Fangting Chen.

 

Known for his thoughtful musicianship and adaptability, Dr. Han has built a reputation as a collaborative pianist and chamber musician across a wide range of repertoire. He has performed extensively with prominent artists, particularly those represented by CREDIA, Korea’s leading artist management agency. His collaborations include celebrated violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill, acclaimed tenor Ji-min Park, and violinist Zia Shin, a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth, Tchaikovsky, and Long-Thibaud Competitions. In addition to his classical engagements, Dr. Han has performed as an orchestra pianist in a broad spectrum of genres including jazz, pop, and musical theater. He also served as a producer at the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), curating live performance broadcasts that showcased his multifaceted musical talents. As a conductor, he has led ensembles such as the Amabile Teachers’ Orchestra, GAHS Alumni Concert Orchestra, and the GHM Choir in Korea.

 

Alongside his work as a performer, Dr. Han pursues academic research focusing on historically underrepresented composers and the broader themes of diversity and equity in music. His first doctoral dissertation, Performance Edition for Florence Price’s Piano Sonata, offers a critical examination of Price’s life and compositional achievements and was honored with the Dissertation Award at Michigan State University. His second dissertation—an analytical and performance-based study of selected saxophone sonatas—serves as a practical guide for pianists working in collaborative settings. His future research and artistic goals include exploring the integration of Western classical music with traditional musical forms from diverse cultures across Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

 

Dr. Han holds two Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano from Michigan State University, an Artist Diploma from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (where he was awarded the Art of the Piano Foundation Award Scholarship), and both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from the Korea National University of Arts. His principal teachers include Deborah Moriarty, Zhi-hua Tang, Awadagin Pratt, Dae-jin Kim, Oxana Yablonskaya, Choong-Mo Kang, and Young-Bang Cho.

 

In 2022, Dr. Han joined the faculty of the University of Wyoming, following previous teaching appointments at Michigan State University and the University of Cincinnati, where he inspired students as both instructor and teaching assistant.