Solasian Youth Orchestra 2026: A Platform for the Next Generation of Musicians
2025 Solasian Youth Orchestra
Daegu Concert House is a dedicated classical music venue located in Daegu, South Korea, a UNESCO Creative City of Music. Among its flagship education initiatives is the Solasian Youth Orchestra — now in its eighth edition since its founding in 2018. The programme takes its name from a blend of “Sol” (sun) and “Asia” — symbolising young musicians whose passion and potential shine as brightly as the sun.
More than a performance opportunity, the Solasian Youth Orchestra is designed as a comprehensive training platform for emerging musicians preparing for professional careers. Participants are selected through a video audition process comprising a solo performance and designated orchestral excerpts. Each year, talented young musicians from across Korea and overseas come together, with past participants from countries including Estonia, Poland and Germany.
Selected participants will gather at Daegu Concert House from 31 Jul – 7 Aug 2026 for an intensive residency. Through full orchestra rehearsals, sectional coaching, instrument-specific training sessions, special lectures and mentoring activities, participants gain practical experience of the artistic and professional demands of orchestral life.
2026 Solasian Youth Orchestra Conductor, Shi Yeon Sung
2026 Solasian Youth Orchestra Soloist, Ji Young Lim
A highlight of the 2026 edition is the appointment of conductor Shi-Yeon Sung as Music Director and Conductor — currently Principal Guest Conductor of the Auckland Philharmonia, with recent engagements at the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Her participation also marks the first time a woman has led the Solasian Youth Orchestra. Joining as soloist is violinist Ji Young Lim, winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, who will work closely with the young musicians throughout the residency.
The faculty team is composed of leading musicians from prominent orchestras in Korea and abroad, including Kitbi Lee, Principal Concertmaster of the Orchestre National de Picardie (France); Hyejin Kim of the Orchestre de l’Opéra national de Paris; and Yijea Han of the Deutsche Oper Berlin (Germany). Through coaching and mentoring, these artists bring first-hand experience of international orchestral life to the next generation.
The project culminates in a public concert on 7 Aug at the Grand Hall of Daegu Concert House, featuring Ravel’s La Valse, Korngold’s Violin Concerto, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 — a repertoire that presents both technical and artistic challenges, allowing participants to showcase the results of an intensive week of study and collaboration.
The Solasian Youth Orchestra has grown into far more than a summer orchestral training programme. Over the years, distinguished artists including conductors Domingo Hindoyan, Sunwook Kim and Seungwon Lee, and soloists Clara-Jumi Kang and Kun-Woo Paik have joined the programme, inspiring generations of young musicians. Through the Solasian Youth Orchestra, Daegu Concert House continues to nurture the next generation of classical musicians, strengthening connections among young artists from around the world — and remains committed to fostering exceptional musical talent for years to come.