Oberlin Portrait: Hye Eun Suh

As it is often the case with young musicians, appreciating an instrument's nuances comes after mastery of the technique.

Thus, even though she started playing at age 6, Hye Eun Suh says she was 15 before she first heard the "real sound" of a piano.

Now 23, Suh has amassed an impressive list of accolades, testament to the fact that she's now got the piano's "real sound."

While a student at the Seoul Art High School in Korea, she performed twice at the Ye-Eum Hall in Seoul, received prizes at the Se-Kye and Chunchoo Piano Competition, and won the gold medal at the Korean Times Music Competition.

A student of Professor of Piano Haewon Song, Suh was one of five winners in this fall's Conservatory Concerto Competition. Suh had this to say about her reasons for selecting her winning repertoire, Liszt's Piano Concerto No.2 in A Major: "My hands are not big, so I felt that the Liszt Concerto was a piece that suits my physique." But Suh admits that its "silvery" colors (as opposed to the dark tones of Brahms) were the primary attraction to the work. Her choice of the Liszt came as no surprise to her teacher. "She is not only a very warm human being, but a very sensitive pianist," says Song.

Witnessing audience reaction after her performance of the concerto with the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra on November 11, there is no doubt that the Liszt and Suh were well suited for each other.

But as the below Conservatory Portrait conversation with Suh reveals, there are other things in life that also suit this accomplished young artist.

A Conservatory Portrait Conversation with Hye Eun Suh

What inspired you to become a musician? What keeps you inspired on discouraging days?
My older sister plays piano and studied at the Moscow Conservatory. She was always much better than me, and when I was young, I wanted to be as good as her. When I don't feel like practicing, I don't. I listen to a really good recording instead and imagine that I will play like that someday.

What is the most memorable performance you have ever seen and why?
Yevgeny Kissin performing with the Cleveland Orchestra in 1997. Of course, we all know that he's really good. But what impressed me was that in three days, he performed three different solos with the orchestra. I just couldn't imagine myself being able to do that. It just inspired me to want to be that kind of performer.

If you could perform with any musician, living or dead, who would it be?
Krystian Zimmerman. He's my favorite pianist. Whenever I buy his recording, no matter what he's playing, I never regret it. He somehow sounds both standard and unique.

If you could master another instrument, what would it be?
Probably the violin. When people see my hands, they usually ask: "Do you play the violin?"

If you could not be a musician, what other profession would you choose?
A job in the math field. When I was a first and second year student here at Oberlin, I took math classes, which I really enjoyed. I wanted to work at NASA, but I didn't think my English was good enough for that kind of job.

What do you listen to for inspiration?
I actually listen to piano music for inspiration. I never thought that it was a good idea for me to listen to too much pop music. At one time I did, and my piano pieces started to sound like pop music also.

What do you like to read?
Philosophy books. I don't like novels.

What are three words that describe you?
Complicated, laid-back, and carefree.