Mikyung Sung

About Mikyung Sung

Mikyung Sung gives some of the most fearlessly virtuosic and engaging performances heard on the double bass, most notable for her bel canto lyricism and emotional expression. She came to the attention of bassists around the world through videos of her performances while studying for her Artist Diploma at the Colburn School in Los Angeles

Since her professional debut at age 12 with the Guri Philharmonic, Mikyung has performed as soloist with orchestras such as the Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie, Philharmonie Baden-Baden, Philharmonia Corea, Colburn Orchestra, Seongnam Philharmonic, and Atlanta Festival Youth Orchestra. She has performed at Seoul Arts Center, Lotte Concert Hall, Kumho Art Hall, the Pyeongchang Great Mountains Music Festival, Ditto Festival, Palm Springs Life Festival with Sarah Chang, Music From Angel Fire, and The House Concert series in Korea. She has also been featured on KBS Classic FM, TBS FM 95.1, and SBS radio in Korea.

Initially taught by her double-bassist father, Mikyung spent six years concertizing across South Korea as a double bass duo with her brother while studying at Korea National University of Arts, often with her mother accompanying on piano, and including several appearances on KBS television. She also won first prize in several Korean music competitions. In 2010 at age 17, she took first prize in the International J.M. Sperger Double Bass Competition in Germany as well as the audience prize and special jury prize (having placed 4th two years before). In 2015 at the ISB Competition in Colorado, she received the Thomas Martin prize for the best performance of a work by Bottesini, and second place overall. In 2017 at the Bradetich Competition in Texas she received the internet-voted prize for best finals performance and Honorable Mention overall.

In the 2018-19 season, Mikyung was a Principal Bassist of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and taught at the Shanghai Orchestra Academy. Mikyung formed her Emeth Ensemble double bass quartet with several friends in 2020. In 2023, she moved to the Atlanta area in the United States with her husband and son, and her debut album, "The Colburn Sessions", recorded at The Colburn School with pianist Jaemin Shin, has been receiving glowing reviews.

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