SEOHYEON KIM

Seohyeon KIM started playing the flute at the age of 8. In 2016, she was unanimously admitted to the entrance competition of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP) at the age of 13. She was one of the youngest flutists to be admitted unanimously. After excelling in her studies with top notes in Philippe Bernold’s class, she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in 2019, followed by her Master’s degree in 2021 with the highest notes. In 2023, she earned her Artist Diploma (third cycle).

At the age of 20, she won second prize at the Carl Nielsen Competition (Denmark, 2022), along with two special prizes awarded by the youth jury and the orchestra members. She also received a special prize at the Kobe International Competition (Japan, 2017), as well as first prizes at the Maru International Competition (South Korea, 2015) and the Alexander & Bueno Competition (Singapore, 2013).

She has participated in prestigious competitions for first flute solo positions, reaching the finals and appearing on the waiting lists of the following orchestras: the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, the Orchestre National de France, and the Paris Opera.

At the age of 18, she obtained her first position as first flute solo in the Gürzenich Orchestra of Cologne, under the direction of François-Xavier Roth, for the 2020-2021 season. In January 2022, she was unanimously elected first flute solo of the Zurich Philharmonic by the orchestra members.

In 2024, she was selected by the Initial label and released her first album, Dali, which establishes a connection between French music and traditional Korean music, Arirang. In this album, she explores her musical roots and also plays the traditional Korean flute. The album was praised by Rondomagazine, which named it “CD zum Sonntag.”

Passionate about teaching, she led the flute class at the Conservatory of Carrières-sur-Seine until 2023.

At the same time, she nurtures her interest in early music by continuing her traverso studies with Jan de Winne at CNSMDP. She is also part of the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, where she develops her artistic career under the direction of Emmanuel Pahud, Jelka Weber, and Egor Egorkin.