NPR
Yunchan Lim, the youngest pianist ever to win the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at 18, has taken the classical music world by storm since his victory in 2022. Lauded for his “magical ability” and “natural, instinctive quality” by "La Scena Magazine," Lim has mesmerized audiences globally with his powerful performances.
Taking a bit of the stuffiness out of the settings Lim finds himself in per his performances, he was a recent guest on the National Public Radio (NPR) series “Tiny Desk” concerts on Wednesday Nov. 13.
Described as a “rare artist who brings profound musicality and prodigious technique organically together,” Lim didn’t disappoint during his three-song set list, which included Franz Liszt: Sonetto del Petrarca No. 104, Piotr Tchaikovsky: Moment lyrique, and Piotr Tchaikovsky: “October” (from The Seasons).
“Even though he was under the weather — explaining to our audience why his voice was weak — you could never tell by his powerful command of every note, making our trusty upright sound like a 9-foot grand piano,” NPR music producer Tom Huizenga wrote of the performance.
Lim seems to be a shoo-in for this series given his rise in popularity after his performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 during the Cliburn competition finale, which was met with rapturous applause. The performance quickly gained traction online, trending globally on YouTube, where it has since become the most-watched version of that concerto with over 15 million views. The "New York Times" later included it among the Top 10 Classical Music Performances of 2022, placing Lim’s face on the cover of the pub’s arts section as well.
“Simply put, Lim became an overnight sensation,” Huizenga continued. “And it’s easy to see why in these deeply considered performances. Listen for the deliciously strummed chords in Liszt’s “Petrarca Sonetto,” where, near the end, he rings a bell of two notes high on the keyboard and leaves them suspended in midair. Lim is celebrated for his finger twisting virtuosity, but it’s this kind of poetic dynamic control that astonishes.”
NPR
Following his Cliburn success, Lim has made notable debuts with major orchestras worldwide, including the New York Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Seoul Philharmonic, and the Lucerne Symphony. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Verbier Festival, Wigmore Hall, and Suntory Hall, showcasing his versatility across prestigious venues.
In the 2024-25 season, Lim’s calendar includes debuts with the Washington National Symphony, the London Symphony, and the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. He will also make his Kennedy Center recital debut and return to Carnegie Hall, further solidifying his place in the classical music landscape.
As an exclusive artist with Decca Classics, Lim released his debut studio album, Chopin Études Opp. 10 & 25, which achieved double platinum status in South Korea and topped global classical music charts. The album won the 2024 Gramophone Award for Piano, and Lim was named Young Artist of the Year. His other recordings include Liszt’s Transcendental Études from his Cliburn performance, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor,” and an appearance on KBS’s Young Musicians of Korea.
Born in Siheung, South Korea, Lim started piano lessons at age seven, and by 13, he had joined the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts, where he began studying with his mentor Minsoo Sohn. Lim captured international attention in 2018 with awards at the Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists and the Cooper International Competition. In 2019, he became the youngest winner of Korea’s IsangYun International Competition.
Now pursuing his studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Lim continues to refine his craft under the guidance of Sohn. With his talent, ambition, and accolades, Yunchan Lim’s future as a global musical icon appears exceptionally bright.
And Huizenga concurs, mentioning, “Tchaikovsky is a personal favorite. Lim summons thunder in a stormy passage of the snack-sized Moment lyrique, and follows with “October” (from the cycle The Seasons) where he conjures shades of lambent autumn light, taking great care to dab and mix colors like a painter. It’s easy to fall under the spell of Yunchan Lim’s playing. And we’re lucky, because at just age 20 Lim will be enchanting listeners for a long time.”
