Soo-Jung Kae : Pianist Composer Improviser

When asked why she plays music, Soo-Jung Kae responds, "To me, there are so many things that cannot be described or explained through words. But when I play piano, I don't have to use words to express my feelings and thoughts. If I am sad, I play sad melodies. If I am in a funny mood, I play funny notes. It's that simple. When my emotions are successfully conveyed to the listener through my music, it's a much stronger experience than if they were to read an essay of mine."

Pianist/composer/improvisor Soo-Jung Kae (b.1969 Seoul,Korea) describes her music as a "melting pot of classical, 20th century classical, free improvisation, and jazz." Among her influences, Kae lists artists ranging from Henry Cowell, John Cage, Ran Blake, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Byoungki Hwang, and Beethoven, to Anthony Braxton, Ornette Coleman, Andrew Hill, Thelonius Monk, Elvis Costello, and the Sex Pistols.

Soo-Jung Kae began her musical journey with classical piano training at the age of four. At thirteen, Kae made her debut with the Seoul City Orchestra (Seoul, Korea) performing Rachmoninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2. Called "one of the most influential pianists in Korea" by Monthly Piano Magazine (Korea), Kae was granted a full scholarship to Yonsei University where she received her Bachelor's degree in classical piano performance.€ She went on to perform with the Korean Philharmonic Orchestra and the Yonsei Quartet, stunning audiences with her technical expertise and expressive capabilities. After moving to the United States, Kae discovered improvisational music and composition, and began to explore contemporary music across all stylistic boundaries. Kae went on to receive a professional diploma from the Berklee College of Music, and her Master's degree from the Boston Conservatory.

Soo-Jung Kae has performed in Asia, Europe, and North America as a soloist, and with other artists including Alfred Harth, Charlie Kohlhase, Hans Poppel, Curt Newton, Tom Plsek, Jim Hobbs, Taylor Ho Bynum, Nate McBride, JCA Orchestra,Laura Andel Orchestra, Alan Chase, Biliana Voutchkova, and Chang U Choi, etc. She currently resides in Korea and teaches at the Dong A Broadcasting College. Kae continues to fearlessly search for new ways to advance her art, and in the process provides listeners with an extraordinarily unique experience of music and sound.

Jeff Song