Kookhee Hong

Kookhee Hong​, a native of South Korea, began piano lessons at age four and won first prizes in numerous Korean national competitions. She continued her studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia under tutelage of Elenor Sokoloff. She appeared in master classes by Emanuel Ax, Gary Graffman, Claude Frank, Sergio Perticaroli, Lev Natocheny and Peter Eicher. As a full scholarship student of Solomon Mikowsky, Dr. Hong completed Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees, Professional Studies Diploma and Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at the Manhattan School of Music. She won first prize at the Carlet International Competition in Valencia, second prize at the Maria Canals International Competition in Barcelona, the audience prize and Alicia de Larrocha Spanish prize at the Andorra International Competition, and was also a prize winner at the Panama International Competition. Frequently in demand as a recitalist abroad, she also appeared as a soloist with the Tenerife Symphony, the Manhattan Symphony, the Carlet Sinfonia, the Gran Canaria Philharmonic and the Panama National Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Hong currently teaches as an adjunct professor at Hope International University and Irvine Valley College. Her students have been accepted to prestigious music schools such as California State University, Fullerton, University of California Los Angeles and Eastman School of Music.