Professor & Festival Art Director

Jangsoo Jun

Korea

Classical Guitarist Jangsoo Jun

Jangsoo Jun received his bachelor from Seoul Artspool Conservatory and the Korea National University of Arts before he went to the US to study with Professor Benjamin Verdery at Yale University. After he graduated with a Master of Music, he continued his academic career with Professor Alvaro Pierri at the University Vienna, Austria (Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien), where he completed a postgraduate study.

He received scholarships from Seoul Oratorio, Norfolk Festival, Hong Kong festival, Korean embassy to the USA, and a full scholarship and fellowship for the whole period of studies at Yale University. Guitarist Jun was the first Korean guitarist to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York. At this solo recital he presented “Summer” of “The 4 seasons of Dokdo”, a self-composed piece, which consists of a total of 12 movements and is dedicated to the South Korean isle.

Other performances in the US include a concert at the FBI and various benefit concerts in New York. In South Korea, he performed uncountable concerts, including performances with the KT Orchestra, Cheongju State Orchestra, Capella Istropolitana Chamber Orchester, Hamburg Orchestra, Mokpo State Orchestra, Hwaeum Chamber Orchestra, Ham Il-Gyu and Fluti Ensemble, Maestro Ham Shinik and SONG Orchestra. Since his return to South Korea, Jun has played solo recitals every year at the IBK Hall of the Seoul Arts Center, as well as in the cities of Busan, Gwangju and Yeosu. In 2015 he held solo concert series held in 8 different cities (Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, Jeonju, Suncheon, Pohang, Jeju, Seoguipo), were sponsored by Korea Arts and Culture Education Service, Gwangju Cultural Foundation, Province of Gyeongsangbuk-do and Jun premiered "Spring" of his own composition "The 4 Seasons of Dokdo" and was widely praised for it. He also was invited to play a concert at the Korean Embassy in Turkey. He also was the guest performer at Cheongju KBS.

In 2016, he will have another concert series throughout Korea, sponsored by Chungnam Arts and Culture Foundation, Daejeon Culture and Arts Foundation, Jeollabukdo Culture and Arts Foundation. He will perform concerts with Yakutsk Symphony and St. Petersburg State Symphony from Russia, solo recital in Germany and is invited to the Omsk International Music Festival as a judge and performer.

Jun was the winner of the department of string of the Rothem competition, and received the Korean Guitar Award in 2013. At present, he is a member of the board of directors of the Korean Guitar Association and teaches at Sunhwa Arts High School, Busan Arts High School, Silla University, Silla University Division of Continuing Education, Brno Conservatory, Meongji University and Donga University. Jun was nominated Art Director for the 2016 Korea International Guitar Festival and arranged exchanges with guitarist from many nations.