"Bokyung Byun's performance in the competition was stunning, showcasing her gorgeous tone, immaculate technique and sophisticated musicianship. She is a winner in every sense of the word!"
-JoAnn Falletta
-JoAnn Falletta
Born in 1994, in Seoul, Korea, Bokyung began playing guitar at six. At the age of eleven, she had her first full-length solo recital in Gwangju, Korea. In the following years, she went on numerous concert tours in Korea, receiving enthusiastic response from the Korean audiences. Bokyung's YouTube video of Recuerdos de la Alhambra marked five million views, bringing international attention to the newly rising guitarist. By her teen years, she had won competitions held by the Korea Guitar Association, the Embassy of Spain, and the Music Association of Korea. She launched her career as an internationally recognized young artist after winning the Guitar Foundation of America International Youth Competition in 2007. The competitions Bokyung has recently won include the Frances Walton Competition, the Montreal International Classical Guitar Competition, the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition, and the Tuesday Morning Music Club of New York Competition. In 2018, Bokyung has won the second prize at the Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition and became the first female winner of the prestigious JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition.
Bokyung moved to the United States in 2010 to study with William Kanengiser of Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, and in 2011, she moved to New York City where she entered The Juilliard School at the age of sixteen to study under the tutelage of Sharon Isbin with whom she received her B. M. and M. M. degrees. She is now pursuing a doctoral degree under the guidance of Scott Tennant at the University of Southern California as the recipient of the prestigious International Artist Fellowship.
Being passionate about arts education, Bokyung has been selected as a teaching fellow for The Juilliard School’s prestigious Music Advancement Program and Morse Teaching Artist Fellowships for four consecutive years, enriching her teaching experience at Juilliard, George Jackson Academy, and the City College Academy of the Arts. In addition, she has organized and performed interactive concerts for the Young People's Concert Series of Lincoln Center, being an ambassador of classical guitar by reaching out to the younger audiences.
Bokyung moved to the United States in 2010 to study with William Kanengiser of Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, and in 2011, she moved to New York City where she entered The Juilliard School at the age of sixteen to study under the tutelage of Sharon Isbin with whom she received her B. M. and M. M. degrees. She is now pursuing a doctoral degree under the guidance of Scott Tennant at the University of Southern California as the recipient of the prestigious International Artist Fellowship.
Being passionate about arts education, Bokyung has been selected as a teaching fellow for The Juilliard School’s prestigious Music Advancement Program and Morse Teaching Artist Fellowships for four consecutive years, enriching her teaching experience at Juilliard, George Jackson Academy, and the City College Academy of the Arts. In addition, she has organized and performed interactive concerts for the Young People's Concert Series of Lincoln Center, being an ambassador of classical guitar by reaching out to the younger audiences.