Cliburn Winner Yekwon Sunwoo Gives Recital in Boulder

To the untrained eye, it may seem as though Yekwon Sunwoo's life revolves around the piano. But in point of fact, it revolves around pho.

When he's at home, Sunwoo makes his own steamy noodle bowls. But when he's on the road, he's made it his mission to seek out a pho restaurant in each new city-an impressive goal, given he's about to embark on a long international tour.

The 28 year old is fresh off that three-week keyboard gauntlet also known as the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, where he captured the coveted gold medal. Soon, he'll give recitals in cities all over the map-including Nov. 3 at Macky Auditorium.

The Cliburn, named after the Texas teen whose piano prowess brought the world together at the height of the Cold War, was founded 55 years ago. Since then, the quadrennial competition has welcomed promising young talent from all corners of the globe to Fort Worth, Texas, for an Olympic Games-like, no-holds-barred piano shootout. This year, each competitor performed before more than 4.5 million concert hall and online viewers for a chance to win $50,000, three years of representation and and a recording contract with Universal.

Over the course of three weeks, four rounds and six performances, Sunwoo proved his mettle with a diverse repertoire and nerves of steel. The clincher was his final chamber music performance, where his rendition of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 soared.

"His playing was crisp and effervescent, with crystalline trills," proclaimed The New York Times. "In a work that demanded parity, he was an ideal foil."

Sunwoo is the first Korean to win the Cliburn, which has lately been dominated by Chinese, Japanese and Russian-speaking pianists. But these days, Sunwoo is proud to call New York home. "I try to take advantage of it and just walk around the city," he says. "I go to Central Park and see a lot of Broadway shows."

Now he's off on his Cliburn victory lap, where he's sure to raise more goosebumps and quietly steal more hearts.

"Sunwoo ... seems to have music pouring out of his fingers," says Clavier Companion. "His musicality and elegance-combined with an economical technique and multiple variations in tone and dynamic levels-are gaining him fans."

The performance takes place in Macky Auditorium on Friday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $20. To purchase, visit the CU Presents box office in person (972 Broadway) or call 303-492-8008 during business hours. Note: All online and phone orders are subject to a service fee.

A free, public pre-show lecture will be given by pianist and Associate Professor of Composition Hsing-ay Hsu at 6:45 p.m. in the Old Main Chapel, just south of Macky Auditorium across Pleasant Street.