Artist

Hwayoung Shon (b.1975) is a gayageum virtuoso and composer whose artistry transcends tradition, seamlessly bridging Korea’s rich musical heritage with the contemporary world. Born in South Korea and based in the San Francisco Bay Area, she has dedicated her life to exploring the depth and versatility of the gayageum, breathing new life into its ancient melodies while pushing its boundaries through genre-defying collaborations.

 

Her musical journey began at the age of three with the piano, but it was at eight, upon hearing the delicate yet powerful resonance of the gayageum, that she discovered her true calling. Just two years later, she won first place at the National Korean Traditional Music Competition, leading to her debut on KBS’s New Artist Music Concert in 1986—a moment that marked the beginning of a lifelong pursuit of musical excellence.

 

A graduate of Seoul National University and the winner of numerous national Korean traditional music competitions, Shon has become a pioneering figure in Korean music. She performs as a soloist on prestigious stages worldwide and collaborates with symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, jazz musicians, and world music artists, significantly expanding the gayageum's expressive range. Beyond performance, she actively contributes to the broader understanding and appreciation of Korean traditional music, sharing her insights through lectures and workshops at universities and cultural institutions, and as a columnist for publications like The Korea Times (미주 한국일보) and The Hyundai News US (미주 현대뉴스), where she contributes to "Gugak Column" and "Women's Window." 

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As a composer, Shon weaves Korea's ancient sounds into new sonic landscapes. Her recent work including "Prologue (서시)," "Sing to the Lord," "Ritual," "Nostalgia (무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다)," "Into the Abyss," "Ancient Traveler," "May You Find Rebirth in Paradise (극락왕생하소서)," and "Ballade 1894 (새야 새야 파랑새야)" -- reflect her deep connection to history, spirituality, and human emotion.

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Shon's innovative work and artistic vision have contributed to projects that garnered international recognition from major media outlets, including The Guardian, BBC World Service, and The Atlantic. She was notably featured in Mongabay, specifically for her contributions as a composer and performer to 'Polar Sounds' a groundbreaking global sound project. Independently, her captivating performances have also reached global audiences through major broadcast networks like KBS, MBC, EBS, BBC, WGVU-FM, KAZU-FM, CKRL, Wave Farm and other international networks.

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Shon made history as one of the first gayageum musicians to perform an improvisational duo on KBS with a K-pop artist Jung Won-yeong of Spring Summer Fall Winter (봄여름가을겨울). This pioneering collaboration showcased the instrument's remarkable adaptability in contemporary music. She also gave the world premiere of a work written for her by Barlow Endowment recipient, further expanding the gayageum's presence in modern concert repertoire. 

 

Her extraordinary talent has been widely recognized. The late Seong-Chun Lee, former director of the National Gugak Center, praised her as “a once-in-a-generation talent.” Her profoundly expressive and technically dazzling performances have captivated audiences at venues such as the Herbst Theatre, the World Music Festival in France, and StanfordLive’s Asian Zither Masters showcase. Through collaborations with contemporary ensembles, symphony orchestras such as the Santa Cruz Symphony, jazz collectives, and global music festivals, she continues to redefine the role of the gayageum in 21st-century music.

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Through her ever-evolving work as a performer and composer, Hwayoung Shon not only preserves tradition but also boldly reimagines the future of Korean music on the global stage.