Biography

Yejin Kwon

A Korean composer in Montreal blends orchestral, traditional Korean, and electronic music.

Yejin Kwon is a Korean composer living in Montreal. She has a wide range of music styles, including orchestral, traditional Korean, and electronic. She started playing piano at age four, influenced by traditional Korean folk songs and learning the Kayageum, a Korean string instrument.

Kwon has a wide range of musical interests, including classical, jazz, world music, and Korean traditions. She studied classical music at the University of Dankook in Seoul with Hyunsoo Jung and later trained in contemporary music at the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Paris with Édith Canat de Chizy. Now, she is working on a master's degree at the University of Montreal in composition and sound creation with François Xavier-Dupas. These varied studies have expanded her artistic vision and helped her create a unique musical style that connects Eastern and Western traditions.

Kwon's talents extend beyond classical music; she combines jazz, pop, and Korean traditional music in her pieces. She writes for both acoustic and electronic instruments, constantly seeking new musical ideas. In 2022, she received support from the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture for her orchestral works, leading to her first orchestral album, BIBLOTECA, released in September 2022.

In January 2024, she was chosen as an emerging young composer for the Composer Institutes at the Winnipeg New Music Festival. Her orchestral piece, White-Clad, gained praise when performed by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra at its world premiere during the festival. She continues to pursue her passion for composing and performing orchestral music.

Kwon lives in Montreal and started her creative journey in 2022. She combines her memories of traditional Korean music, classical pieces, and electronic sounds. She aims for important artistic achievements, exploring various forms of expression.