© 2024 WRTI
Your Classical and Jazz Source. Celebrating 75 Years!
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Watch and Listen: Steinway Artist Young-Ah Tak Plays Beethoven and Debussy, Live from WRTI

Acclaimed for her “thrilling blend of fury and finesse” (San Antonio Express-News), pianist Young-Ah Tak performs throughout the world. She played live in the WRTI performance studio and chatted with WRTI Classical Host Kevin Gordon.

Young-Ah performed with the Marinus Ensemble at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts this past February, where she recorded an album of Beethoven Sonatas for the Steinway label.

WRTI Program: 

Beethoven: Rondo in C

1st movement of Sonata in F Major, Op.10 No. 2

Debussy: “Reflections on the Water” from “Images," Book 1

Young-Ah Tak made her New York City debut at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall with the Juilliard Orchestra.  She has appeared at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater in Philadelphia, Seoul Arts Center, Jordan Hall in Boston, Columbia University, Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series, Ravinia Festival, Music@Menlo, Michigan State University’s Wharton Center for Performing Arts, and The Banff Centre in Canada.

As a chamber musician, Young-Ah Tak has collaborated with violinist Robert Mann, cellist Bonnie Hampton, the Ma’alot Quintet, and members of The Florestan Trio.

Young-Ah Tak has been awarded top prizes in numerous international competitions including: San Antonio International Piano Competition (also receiving the “Best Performance of a Classical Work” award), Italy’s Valsesia-Musica International Piano Competition, Korea’s Isang Yun International Music Competition, Hilton Head International Piano Competition, Missouri Southern International Piano Competition, Corpus Christi International Competition, and Germany’s Ettlingen International Piano Competition.

Young-Ah Tak’s debut recording of Judith Zaimont’s Wizards – Three Magic Masters was released by Albany Records to critical acclaim.  Her solo CD - an album of  Haydn, Schumann, Liszt and Kirchner - is available on MSR Classics. She recently recorded for Steinway’s Spirio catalogue, becoming a Spirio Recording Artist.  Ms. Tak is a Steinway Artist.

A veteran broadcaster, Kevin garnered a wealth of experience in radio before taking the weekday classical host position from 2 to 6 PM at WRTI, where he was on the air until his retirement in March 2023.