Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in music and who or what have been the most important influences on your musical life and career?
My parents met each other for the very first time at my father’s cafe where he had hundreds of classical LPs.
When I was little, our house was always filled with classical music, and we had a piano at home where my mother used to teach little children. I used to climb up to the piano bench whenever children hit wrong notes to show them the right keys, and waited every evening for my grandfather to come home so I could accompany him at the piano when he sang some popular songs.
So, naturally, piano was a big part of my life already in my first years and could never think of becoming anything else than a classical pianist!
What have been the greatest challenges of your career so far?
postpartum hand joint pain kept me away from the piano for more than three years. Fortunately, I was able to be back on track thanks to my Korean traditional doctor’s acupuncture and natural medicines.
Which particular works/composers do you think you perform best?
I don’t think I perform certain composers’ works better than others, but if we would talk about the musical tradition and background, I have musical lineage that trace from my late teachers, Lazar Berman and Alicia de Larrocha, back to Beethoven through centuries!
What do you do off stage that provides inspiration on stage?
Visiting museums is an important source of inspiration for me.
The last one I visited was the Metropolitan Museum’s The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350 exhibition where I spent hours exploring some incredible works by Sienese artists. What an exhilarating experience!
How do you make your repertoire choices from season to season?
Often there are requests to perform specific composers’ works especially when it comes to the festivals dedicated to a specific composer or when a conductor wants to perform a specific concerto with me. Otherwise, I follow my heart.
Do you have a favourite concert venue to perform in and why?
So far, my favorite venue would probably be the Wigmore Hall in London. The acoustic is superb and their resident Steinway concert grand that produce warm sound.
What do you feel needs to be done to grow classical music’s audiences?
Classical music should be heard in public places more often. Young people don’t have many chances to hear good music nowadays and it’s such a pity. Classical music definitely needs more exposure.
What is your most memorable concert experience?
The Government of Catalonia in Spain invited me to give a recital at the Pedralbes Royal Palace for the 50 years for the victims and survivors of Ravensbruck Women’s Concentration Camp. It was such an honor to perform for these invitees who traveled from all over the world to attend this concert.
As a musician, what is your definition of success?
My definition of success is when your performance make the audiences hold their breath, and make them forget to applaud until you get up to take a bow!
What advice would you give to young/aspiring musicians?
Listen to your teacher who’s always right!
What’s next?
Looking forward to the release of my fifth album, Bartok by Sonya Bach (March 2025).
What is your most treasured possession?
The musical legacy that my teachers passed on to me.
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