Sunmi Chang

Former SPCO Musician

As the laureate of both the 2007 International Markneukirchen and Sion-Valais International Violin Competitions, Sunmi Chang has performed widely to much acclaim throughout North America and Europe as a soloist and chamber musician. In 2008, she was the soloist of the Yale Philharmonia's tour to Seoul, Beijing, and Shanghai, performing the Beethoven Concerto. She started her studies at the age of seven with Professor Nam-Yun Kim in South Korea. She won several national competitions such as the Wol-Gan, the Junior Korean Newspaper, and Cho-Sun Daily Newspaper Competitions, before leaving Korea to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School in England. While a student, she performed regularly in prestigious venues as Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Royal Albert Hall. In 1998 and 1999 she toured with the YMS orchestra playing Bach Double Concerto for two violins conducted by Lord Menuhin in UNESCO Headquarters and Guildford Cathedral. Upon graduation, she went to Berlin to study with Professor Eberhard Feltz, at the Hanns Eisler Musikhochschule. She has taken part in various festivals and master classes with Mauricio Fuks, Zakhar Bron, Robert Masters, Zvi Zeitlin, Rainer Kussmaul, Midori, Lord Menuhin and others. An active chamber musician, Chang won first prize at the Plowman Chamber Music Competition and has collaborated with many renowned artists. She has been invited to take part in various chamber music festivals such as the Rising Stars Series at Caramoor, Music@Menlo and Chamber Music Northwest. She completed her studies with Peter Oundjian and Ani Kavafian in 2009, earning the Artist Diploma and the Master of Music degree at Yale University, where she won the School's concerto competition in 2006. She has been performing with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra since 2009.