Seoul, Korea
New York, New York, USA
The Korean-American flutist Stephanie Kwak came to a recognition when she won the first prize at age 15 as the first youngest competitor of National Flute Association Competition (NFA). She then proceeded to study at The Juilliard School for her Bachelor and Master degrees, where she was a scholarship recipient. In addition to her masters program at The Juilliard School, she simultaneously studied at Columbia University for French literature. She then completed her Doctoral degree at State University of New York as a full scholarship recipient, where she was also teaching the undergraduate flute performance.
Stephanie Kwak has had her debut recital at Carnegie Hall and performed as soloist for concerto appearance at the Berlin Philharmonic Hall with the Berliner Symphoniker. Showing special musicianship as a concert soloist, The Juilliard School nominated Stephanie Kwak as their soloist to perform at Lincoln Center David Geffen Hall with Juilliard Symphony Orchestra in celebration for Pierre Boulez. She has also marked sold out concerto performance at Staller Arts Center, and held solo appearances at Alice Tully Hall, Peter Jay Sharp Theater among other concert halls in New York.
Stephanie Kwak is an ardent musician for both stewarding and showcasing the current flow of modern contemporary music while avidly performing traditional repertoire as well. She was invited to premiere numerous pieces for composition professors of The Juilliard School and other composers of this era. She also took part in releasing the album <The Garden> performing new music of composer Tom Cipullo with Juilliard faculties by the The Guggenheim Arts Foundation. At Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), she performed as a principal member of the contemporary music group, New Juilliard Ensemble, under the direction of Joel Sachs. Meanwhile, she has been invited to perform solo recital and chamber music series of traditional repertoire at festivals in France, Musicales en Côte Chalonnaise, and she has also been invited by the assistant conductor of Metropolitan Opera, Jonathan Kelly, to perform traditional repertoire recital series by his piano accompaniment.
In Asia, she has been invited to perform solo recital in Taiwan National Theater and concerto performances with Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra, Jeju Philharmonic Orchestra, Gunsan Philharmonic Orchestra, Daedeok Philharmonic Orchrestra, Symphony Song Orchestra, Korea Flute Association Orchestra, Ukraine Symphony Orchestra, and has held solo recitals in Seoul Arts Center.
Flutist Stephanie Kwak is currently based in South Korea, where she is teaching at Sejong University and Chungnam National University. In Chungnam National University, she is teaching the undergraduate and graduate flute performance. At Sejong University, she gives weekly graduate level orchestra seminar lecture classes, and she also teaches the graduate flute performance. Stephanie Kwak is an instructor who is passionate about students thriving on their musical journeys, and she is frequently invited for masterclasses and concert appearances in Korea, the United States, Japan, Taiwan, China, and Europe. She is currently a member of ‘Korea Flute Association’ and ‘World Music Artists Association,’ while she continues to appear as guest principal flutist at Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra. She is an artist of LLTV music management group where she is expected to give various recordings with new programs in the upcoming season. She performs on a Burkart Elite Sterling Silver flute.