Ji Su Jung

“Ji Su Jung’s performance was dazzling—filled with breathtaking virtuosity but also beautifully shaped with extraordinary color and nuance.” —JoAnn Falletta

The first solo percussionist to ever receive the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, Ji Su Jung has a distinctive musical voice that is instantly recognizable for its depth and lyricism. Born in South Korea, Jung began studying marimba at age four, a rarity among percussionists. Since launching her career as a soloist, she has performed concertos with such leading orchestras and conductors as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with Marin Alsop, the Houston Symphony with Daniel Hege, the Aspen Festival Orchestra with Michael Stern, the Colorado Symphony and the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra with Peter Oundjian, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic with JoAnn Falletta, the Grand Rapids Symphony with Marcelo Lehninger, and the Boise Philharmonic with Eric Garcia. Highlights of Jung’s 2023-24 season include concerto appearances with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the Sarasota Orchestra, and the Wyoming Symphony.

“Ji Su Jung’s performance of the Kevin Puts Marimba Concerto was dazzling—filled with breathtaking virtuosity but also beautifully shaped with extraordinary color and nuance,” remarked conductor JoAnn Falletta about Jung’s performance with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. Jung’s recording of the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts’s Marimba Concerto, performed with the Baltimore Symphony and Marin Alsop, was released on the Naxos label in February 2023. Pizzicato said of the recording that “Jung elicits wide spectrums from the work with superior technical execution.”

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WQXR celebrates Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a concert in The Greene Space

Discography

  • Kevin Puts: Marimba Concerto

    Ji Su Jung performs the Marimba Concerto of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marin Alsop.

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Repertoire

  • Concertos

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    MARIMBA CONCERTOS

    *Indicates concertos of focus; however, all concertos are available for consideration.

    Current as of February 2024.

     

    Richard Bennett: Concerto for Marimba and Chamber Orchestra

    *Martin Bresnick: Grace, for Two Marimbas and Orchestra                                      

    *Eric Ewazen: Concerto for Marimba and String Orchestra, Op. 34                          

    *Alan Hovhaness: Fantasy on Japanese Wood Prints, Op. 211 (“Han-ga Genso”)       

    Soomin Kim: Marimba Concerto

    Peter Klatzow: Concerto for Marimba, Flute, and String Orchestra

    Per Nørgård: For a Change (Percussion Concerto No.1)

    *Kevin Puts: Marimba Concerto                                                                         

    Joseph Schwantner: Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra

    *Emanuel Sejourné: Concerto for Marimba and Strings (2005 version)              

    Tōru Takemitsu: Gitimalya (“Bouquet of Songs”)

    *Christopher Theofanidis: Concerto for Marimba and Wind Sinfonietta         

    *Christopher Theofanidis: Concerto for Marimba and Symphony Orchestra              

    Note: Theofanidis’s Concerto for Marimba and Symphony Orchestra is a new version of the concerto originally composed for marimba and wind sinfonietta. Theofanidis is creating this new version for symphony orchestra specifically for Ji Su Jung, which she will debut in Fall 2024.

    *Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni)

    Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, “Spring” (La primavera)

    Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, “Summer” (L’estate)

    Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, “Autumn” (L’autunno)

    Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, “Winter” (L’inverno)

    Note: The Four Seasons can be performed with marimba and string orchestra, marimba and string quartet, or a string ensemble of intermediate size. Presenters may select any or all of the four concertos.

    Repertoire must be approved by Ji Su Jung. Contact the Curtis Institute of Music representatives below with any inquiries.

  • Recitals

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    Recital Program 1: Boundless Horizon

    Music of Female Composers

    Ji Su Jung is using her 2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant to expand the repertoire for solo marimba by commissioning new works by female composers from various cultures around the world. This colorful program gives life to two new works, presented alongside familiar female voices.

     

    Mlle Bocquet: Prelude in D minor for Lute

    Mlle Bocquet: Allemande in D minor for Lute

    Mlle Bocquet: Gigue in D minor for Lute

    Mlle Bocquet: Sarabande in A minor for Lute

    Lili Boulanger: “D’un Jardin Clair,” from Trois Morceaux pour Piano

    Joan Tower: Clocks

    Nina Young: Mezzanine

    *Soomin Kim: …does not remember the footprints of birds

    -INTERMISSION-

    Missy Mazzoli: Orizzonte for piano and pre-recorded soundtrack

    *Dai Wei: newly commissioned work, title TBD

    Clara Schumann: Three Romances, Op. 11

    *New works commissioned for this program.

     

    Recital Program 2

     

    Bach: Suite in E minor for Lute, BWV 996

    Ligeti: “Arc-en-Ciel,” from Études for Piano (Book 1)

    Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in D minor, K. 213

    Nina Young: Mezzanine

    Soomin Kim: …does not remember the footprints of birds

    -INTERMISSION-

    Jacob Druckman: Reflections on the Nature of Water

    Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in D minor, K. 32

    Tchaikovsky: October (“Autumn Song”), from The Seasons, Op. 37b

    Keith Jarrett: The Köln Concert, Part IIc

     

    Repertoire subject to change; substitutions may be available. Programs must be approved by the Ji Su Jung. Contact the Curtis Institute of Music representatives below with any inquiries.

Collaborations

  • Ji Su Jung and Timothy Chooi, violin

    Acclaimed violinist Timothy Chooi and celebrated marimbist Ji Su Jung join forces to perform a colorful and dynamic program including works by Piazzolla, Kreisler, Keith Jarrett, and Gabriela Ortiz. The duo offers both a full-length recital program and a 1-hour version that can be performed without intermission.

Contact

General Management
Andrew Lane
Vice President, Touring and Artist Management
Executive Director, Curtis Artist Management
(215) 717-3124
andrew.lane@curtis.edu

Booking Representatives (North America)
Julie Gaitens
Booking Representative
(215) 717-3146
julie.gaitens@curtis.edu

Brayton Arvin
Artist Manager and Booking Representative
(215) 875-4204
brayton.arvin@curtis.edu

Booking Representative (Europe)
Julika Castro
Booking Representative, Europe
+49 (0)178-514 43 26
julika.castro@curtis.edu

Engagement Advancing (Curtis Artist Management)
Catelyn Cohen
Manager of Artist Services
(215) 717-3129
catelyn.cohen@curtis.edu