Marguerite Long Thibaud Competition Grand Prize Winner Junhee Kim to Perform in Manila

Written by Chantal Gapato  |  January 18, 2026

Internationally acclaimed South Korean pianist Junhee Kim, winner of the Grand Prize at the Marguerite Long Thibaud Piano Competition in France, will perform in Manila this February as part of a solo concert and masterclass engagement.

Kim will present a solo piano recital on February 15, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. at Manila Piano, located at the Ronac Lifestyle Building along Paseo de Magallanes in Makati City. The program will feature works by Chopin, Ravel, Ching, Gershwin, and Kapustin.

In addition to the recital, Kim will conduct a piano masterclass on February 14, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Varlez Piano, located on the second floor of the LGI Building at Ortigas Avenue corner Wilson Street in Greenhills, Metro Manila.

Kim has earned international recognition for his performances, which critics have described as combining technical brilliance, emotional depth, and refined musicality. His interpretations are noted for offering fresh perspectives on classical piano repertoire while maintaining strong ties to tradition.

Among his major competition achievements are the Grand Prize at the Marguerite Long Thibaud Piano Competition in France, top honors at the Vladimir Horowitz Piano Competition in Ukraine, and second prize at the Schubert International Piano Competition in Germany.

He has appeared as a soloist with leading orchestras including the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the San Remo Symphony Orchestra, and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. His performances have taken place in major venues and festivals worldwide, including concert halls in Nice, Antibes, Bordeaux, the Louvre Museum in Paris, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, the Musique en Côte Basque festival, the Chopin Festival in France, and events during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Kim’s debut recording, Apparitions, released by Deutsche Grammophon, received critical praise for its artistry and interpretative approach.

He is a graduate of Korea National University and the Hochschule für Musik in Munich, where he studied under Professor Arnulf von Arnim.

The Manila performances are presented by the Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation in cooperation with Double Pentagon, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, and Varlez Piano.

Tickets for the concert may be obtained by contacting CAEO at 0920 954 0053 or 0918 347 0327, or by visiting www.veniccio.com. Inquiries regarding the masterclass may be directed via email to josephuy2004@yahoo.com.

Photo courtesy of Sanghyeon Jeong