Northwest faculty member performs at Carnegie Hall in New York City

A Northwest Missouri State University faculty member recently was given the opportunity to perform at a famed concert venue, Carnegie Hall.

Dr. Jiwon Choi – a pianist who collaborates with the University’s choirs, vocal and instrumental studios, student pianists, music faculty and guest artists – performed in two concerts at Carnegie Hall. Through an invitation with Hungarian pianist Adam Gyorgny, she teams with vocalists based in New York City as part of the “Tuudr Gala Concert.”

Dr. Jiwon Choi recently performed in two concerts at Carnegie Hall. (Submitted photo)

“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,” Choi said. “It has reinvigorated my passion as both a pianist and an educator, and I look forward to bringing the inspiration and insights from Carnegie Hall back to Northwest.”

For a Sept. 29 concert, she collaborated with Tenor Toby Bradford for “Ah! lève-toi soleil” by French composer Charles Gounod and with soprano Teddy Siegel for “Adieu notre petite table” by French composer Jules Massenet.

Her second performance on Oct. 27 presented Soviet composer Nikolai Kapustin’s Preludes, Op. 53, Nos. 11 and 24 for the Adam Gyorgy Annual Gala Concert. 

“Performing on one of the world’s most prestigious stages is a humbling honor that brings with it a profound sense of responsibility and pride,” Choi said. “Standing where so many musical legends have stood felt surreal and energizing. Beyond the performance itself, I deeply valued the chance to connect with fellow musicians, including world-renowned pianists and promising rising stars.”

Choi, who began playing the piano at age 6 and joined the faculty in 2016, previously performed at Carnegie Hall as a first-prize winner of the 2018 Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition. She also received first prize at the 2014 American Protégé International Competition of Romantic Music, marking her debut at Carnegie Hall, and she was selected as a finalist in the professional division of The American Prize national competition in the performing arts.

In 2021, she earned first prize at the Puerto Rico International Collaborative Piano Competition.

Choi holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Kansas, where she was a graduate assistant and a faculty member. She received her Master of Music in piano performance at Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and her Bachelor of Music in piano performance at Dong-Ah University in South Korea.