The South Korean native, who is now studying at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, showed the technical polish and lyrical elegance needed for Liszt's kaleidoscope of show-stopping, then tender music.

-Houston Chronicle

An annual young-artist competition yielded the impressive, Curtis Institute-trained pianist Kwan Yi for last Saturday's performance of the Schumann Piano Concerto.

-Philadelphia Inquirer

Pianist Kwan Yi has been hailed by audiences and critics alike as an artist of poetic insight and communicative powers. In 2007, Mr. Yi made his debut with the Houston Symphony under the baton of Hans Graf, performing the Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2 in Jones Hall.  He appeared as a soloist with the Pottstown Symphony performing the Schumann Piano Concerto. As a recitalist, Mr. Yi has performed in Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, Nichols Hall in Chicago, and Gusman Hall in Miami. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with the St. Petersburg Quartet, Itzhak Perlman, Peter Wiley and Roberto Diaz. His performances have been broadcast by WHYY, KUHF and WQXR. His future engagements include recitals in the Auditorium du Louvre in Paris, a solo appearance with Orchestra of the Pines and numerous performances in Korea.

A recipient of many honors and prizes, Mr. Yi’s recent awards include the National Foundation in the Advancement in the ARTS Award, the ASCAP Foundation’s Ira Gershwin Award for Outstanding Musicianship, and the Grand Prize of 2007 Ima Hogg National Young Artist Competition, 2007 Sorantin International Young Artist Competition and 2008 Schmidbauer International Piano Competition.

Mr. Yi is currently studying with Ignat Solzhenitsyn at the Curtis Institute of Music where he holds Lester H. Grundy Fellowship. While attending the Juilliard School Pre-College Division, he studied with Frank Levy. Additionally, he worked with Gary Graffman, Robert McDonald and Fou T’song.