NW Missouri Times

A faculty member from Northwest Missouri State University, Dr. Jiwon Choi, recently performed at the renowned Carnegie Hall in New York City. Dr. Choi, a pianist known for her collaboration with various university choirs and musicians, participated in two concerts at the venue.

The performances were part of an invitation by Hungarian pianist Adam Gyorgy, which involved teaming up with vocalists from New York City for the “Tuudr Gala Concert.” During one concert on September 29, Dr. Choi worked with tenor Toby Bradford on Charles Gounod’s “Ah! lève-toi soleil” and soprano Teddy Siegel on Jules Massenet’s “Adieu notre petite table.”

Her second performance took place on October 27 during the Adam Gyorgy Annual Gala Concert, where she presented Soviet composer Nikolai Kapustin’s Preludes, Op. 53, Nos. 11 and 24.

Reflecting on her experience, Dr. Choi expressed gratitude to her colleagues and students: “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my colleagues and students who have supported me, especially Northwest for sponsoring my trip to Carnegie Hall for the second performance,” she said. She added that performing at such a prestigious venue was both humbling and energizing: “Standing where so many musical legends have stood felt surreal and energizing.”

Dr. Choi began playing piano at age six and joined Northwest's faculty in 2016. Her previous performances at Carnegie Hall include being a first-prize winner of the 2018 Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition and receiving first prize at the 2014 American Protégé International Competition of Romantic Music.

She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Kansas and has also studied at Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University as well as Dong-Ah University in South Korea.