Ryan Chung performs Poulenc: Concerto in C# minor, FP 146I. Allegretto

Winner of the 54th SYAMFA Concerto Competition
Saturday, May 11, 2024 | 7:30 p.m. The Great Hall | Town Hall Seattle
Poulenc: Concerto in C# minor, FP 146
I. Allegretto
Ryan Chung, piano, 17, is a senior at Kamiak High School and studies with Allan Park.
Over the course of several years, he has garnered numerous awards in prestigious piano competitions. Notably, Ryan recently received First Prize at the 2023 WMEA State Solo and Ensemble Competition. He also received Gold Medals at both the Charleston International Music Competition and the Pacific International Piano Competition. He was named a finalist at the Vancouver International Piano Competition and claimed third prize in the IX Rome International Piano Competition.
Ryan made his orchestral debut with Pacifica Chamber Orchestra in 2021, performing the first movement of the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor. The following year, he performed the third movement of the same concerto with the Bellevue Symphony Chamber Orchestra. This year, Ryan was selected as a winner to perform with the Seattle Symphony 2024-2025 Concert Season.
Ryan’s musical pursuits extend beyond the piano as evidenced by his role as concertmaster of his school’s symphonic orchestra Philharmonic Strings I, and chamber orchestra, The Über Kammerstreich, which placed second in the 2022 WMEA State Solo and Ensemble Competition. His passion for chamber music has led him to explore diverse repertoire with his string quartet and piano trio, delving into works by composers such as Anton Webern and Astor Piazolla. Additionally, he explored new genres through his high school’s theatrical production of Chicago, where he was the keyboardist. Ryan also briefly had the opportunity to learn Gamelan, a traditional Indonesian percussion ensemble, where he performed the bonang during his time in the Jakarta Intercultural School.
In addition to music, Ryan is a dedicated student leader and academic achiever, serving as the president of his school’s Knowledge Bowl team and vice-president of both the Math team and orchestra program. Despite his demanding schedule, Ryan finds time to indulge in other hobbies, including tennis, soccer, and video games.
Ryan will be attending Carnegie-Mellon University as a double major in computer science and piano performance.