Yoko Kakishita

Ms. Kakishita graduated top in her class from Musashino University of Music in Tokyo where she also completed graduate school. During this time she studied with Misaki Segawa, Yukio Yokoyama, Elena Cushnelova and Konstantin and Djulia Ganev. Among other concerts, she has performed at the Musashino Freshman Concert and Yomiuru Freshmen (Shinjin) Concert. She now is completing the doctoral course at Elisabeth University of Music in Hiroshima where she studies regularly with Kumiko Hirosawa and is coached by Tong-Il Han. Most recently she has played recitals at Elisabeth University of Music. This is Ms. Kakishita's first performance at the Chiang Mai Music Festival.

Seol-Hwa Kim

Ms. Kim is just fifteen years old and is returning to the Chiang Mai Music Festival for the third time. Presently she is a 10th grade student at Sun-Hwa Arts High School in Seoul and is a student of Min-Sook Chun. Also she studies with Tong-Il Han as a student in his Tong-Il Han Piano Academy in Seoul. In addition to her outstanding performances in Thailand, Ms. Kim has performed as a young artist in many concerts in Korea and also recently in Hawaii. She was the Grand Prize Winner of the 20th Joong-Ang Piano Competition, the Grand Prize Winner of the 93rd WMN National Competition. Also, she was the Grand Prize winner of the 9th National Competition.

Song-I Jeong

Ms. Jeong just turned sixteen years old and is returning to the Chiang Mai Music Festival for the second time. She is a 10th grade student at Sun-Hwa Arts High School in Seoul and is a student of Min-Sook Chun. Also she studies with Tong-Il Han as a student in his Tong-Il Han Piano Academy in Seoul. Though young, she has performed in numerous concerts in Korea as an accomplished young artist and is a prize winner in several piano competitions.

You-Min Shin

Ms. Shin now is sixteen years old and is returning to the Chiang Mai Music Festival for the second year. She is a 10th grade student at Sun-Hwa Arts High School in Seoul and is a student of Min-Sook Chun. Also she studies with Tong-Il Han as a student in his Tong-Il Han Piano Academy in Seoul. Ms. Shin is a prize winner in a number of piano competitions in Korea such as Goyang City Piano Competition and BEDESTA Piano Competition. She also has performed in many concerts in Korea as a gifted young artist.

Note on Young Artists' Present Schools:

Elisabeth University of Music - Hiroshima, Japan
Elisabeth University of Music is a Jesuit-founded university of music of exceptional quality in the city of Hiroshima, Japan. Professor Kumiko Hirosawa is a long-time and highly regarded teacher at this university.

Sun-Hwa Arts High School - Seoul, Republic of Korea
Sun-Hwa Arts High School is one of the finest arts high schools in Korea. Professor Min-Sook Chun is one of Korea's outstanding teachers with a legacy of brilliant students of great artistry.

Tong-Il Han Piano Academy - Seoul, Republic of Korea
Founded in 2006, the Tong-Il Han Piano Academy consists of a highly select group of young pianists regularly mentored by Tong-Il Han.