About
South Korean violinist Mee-Hyun Esther Park strives to convey her unique interpretations onto the concert stage to create performances that forge meaningful connections with the audience, believing in the power of music to bring people together.
Whilst deeply devoted to the classical repertoire, Esther is equally passionate about exploring contemporary works and discovering lesser-known pieces of the violin repertoire.
Notable achievements include winning the Grand Prix of the 19-26 category of the International Artists Competition 2024, Joint 1st Prize of the North London Festival D’Addario String Competition 2024, 1st Prize of the Royal College of Music Violin Competition 2022, 2nd Prize of the RCM Concerto Competition 2022, performing with Maxim Vengerov and the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall and performing Olivier Messiaen’s Quatour pour la fin du temps at Wigmore Hall.
As a soloist, Esther has given recitals at the Elgar Room in the Royal Albert Hall, the Bridgewater Hall, St James’s Piccadilly London, Korean Cultural Centre London, Kumho Arts Hall, Iwon Arts Hall, and Youngsan Grace Arts Hall in South Korea, and has received guidance from internationally acclaimed artists such as Leonidas Kavakos, Alina Ibragimova, Kirill Troussov, Dong-Suk Kang, Shmuel Ashkenasi and Gyorgy Pauk.
One of Esther’s passions lies in the world of chamber music. Having been taught chamber music and classical improvisation by David Dolan and Ioan Davies, Esther regularly collaborates with artists including Lawrence Power, Dina Duisen and Robert Cohen.
Esther is a member of the Brompton Quartet, who recently released its debut album, Constellations, through the Platoon album label. The Quartet were the winners of the St-Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Music Competition 2019 and RCM String Quartet Competition 2022, and has performed at prestigious venues and concert societies around the UK such as Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room at the Southbank Centre, Turner Sims Southampton, BBC Radio 3 ‘In Tune’ with Lawrence Power and was selected as a Park Lane Group Artist 2020-21 and Making Music Artist. They were also Quartet-in-Residence at the Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival 2023 and was invited to the West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival 2021 by Lawrence Power.
The Quartet received coachings from eminent musicians such as Alfred Brendel, Alina Ibragimova, and members of the Endellion, Elias, Pavel Haas, and Sacconi Quartets, and explores a diverse range of repertoire from the Baroque era to works of the present day whilst collaborating with new emerging composers.
Esther also regularly freelances and tours with major UK orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Collegium Orchestra directed by Lawrence Power and the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra after being selected for the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s Pathway Scheme 2022-23.
Esther studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School from the age of 10 with a full scholarship from the UK Government’s Music and Dance Scheme, then joined the Royal College of Music where she completed her Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Artist Diploma studies with full scholarships as an Orpheus Scholar supported by the Knights of the Round Table Award, Help Musicians Postgraduate Awards 2023 and 2024, the Wayne Sleep Foundation Award, Nicholas Boas Charitable Trust and Talented Unlimited. Her teachers include Boris Kucharsky and Radu Blidar.
Esther currently teaches at The Yehudi Menuhin School as an Assistant Professor.