"Young musicians need more opportunities" Three questions to LGT Young Soloist Haeun Honney Kim

Haeun Honney Kim, what first made you fall in love with your instrument?

I was first introduced to the violin by my pianist mother when I was four years old. Interestingly, I actually wanted to play the cello. I remember going to one of my mother's rehearsals and being completely fascinated by the instrument. When I got home, I grabbed chopsticks and a broom to imitate playing it. However, because I was still very small, my mother suggested I begin with violin and switch later.

What truly made me fall in love with the violin was hearing a recording of Vitali's "Chaconne" for the first time. I never knew the violin was capable of having such beautiful, expressive sounds, and how voice-like it could be.  Over time, I came to appreciate the violin's incredible range of colours and character, from lyrical warmth to brilliant intensity, and I'm very grateful I continued with it.

Which part of the journey from talented young musician to professional musician do you find the most difficult?

No matter how talented a young musician may be, growth becomes difficult without opportunities to perform and share that talent. Stage experience is such an important part of development because it teaches you about your strengths, weaknesses, habits, and mental resilience as a performer. Unfortunately, I think there are limited opportunities for many young musicians to truly present themselves and build recognition.

At the same time, music is demanding not only physically, but mentally. Beyond technical preparation, musicians constantly face comparison, competition, self-criticism, and pressure to improve. I believe learning how to manage these challenges while still maintaining passion and joy for music is one of the most difficult, but also most important, aspects of becoming a professional musician. 

Which aspect of performing with the LGT Young Soloists has been your highlight so far?

One of the greatest highlights of performing with the LGT Young Soloists has been meeting and collaborating with musicians from all over the world. Being surrounded by people from different cultures and backgrounds has taught me so much, both musically and personally. Since I have always been interested in European culture and dreamed of studying in Europe, these experiences have been especially meaningful and have influenced both my playing and my perspective.

If I had to choose one unforgettable concert experience, it would be performing at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg Germany. The hall itself is breathtaking, and the acoustics are incredible from the stage. Performing there in front of a sold-out audience of 2500 people and hearing the applause surround me was an unforgettable moment and definitely one of my biggest highlights so far.