Pianist
Early in his training as a pianist, Heechul Yang discovered that lied accompaniment was his artistic forte. He focused his entire education on this artistic task. His solo performances are exceptional, but his interpretations of romantic song are sensitive and expressive. This is particularly evident in the emotional involvement of the singers. He sees it as his musical task to bring out the content and authentic expression of songs in harmony with the performers’ emotional world and powers of expression, and he accepts these challenges wholeheartedly.
Conductor
Heechul Yang’s academic training as a choral and vocal conductor has enabled him to pursue a new path in his musical endeavours. He possesses the sensitivity necessary to bring music closer to the choral ensemble. He is able to empathically convey the meaning and the emotional world that is necessary for the interpretation of the selected pieces of music to the singers while training the ensemble or solo voices in individual training. In doing so, he provides the framework for the individual development of voices in the choral ensemble. He looks for the space for interpretation in the music, thereby offering the opportunity to bring pieces of music to younger people in a variety of performance styles.
Career
At the age of 5, his aunt, who owned a music school, recognised his musical talent. Heechul has since received extensive support and encouragement from his family. Alongside his schooling, he received a solid musical education. He learned to play the violin, piano, harmonica and to sing. Throughout his childhood he won many prizes as a solo singer.
He graduated from Yein Music Art High School in 2006. This was succeeded by a Bachelor of Music, majoring in solo piano, at Chugye University for the Arts, South Korea, studying under Prof. Soyoung Yu (2011).
The following year, he made a conscious decision to pursue postgraduate studies in choral and vocal performance. He thus began his studies as a conductor for choir and voice in 2012. In 2014, he graduated with a Master of Music in conducting for choir and voice at the West University of Timișoara in Romania, where he studied under Prof. Peter Oschanitzky.
It was during this training that Heechul finally settled on his current passion: vocals and piano.
During his two years at the Hamburger Konservatorium, Heechul received training in song interpretation and vocal correpetition from Prof. Henning Lucius.
Using this training, Heechul was successful in his application for a Master’s degree at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen in 2015.
Heechul successfully graduated in May 2021 with a major in Piano, Duo with Pianists – Musical Accompaniment, under Prof. Xaver Poncette.
In 2019, Heechul succeeded in obtaining a Richard Wagner Scholarship from the Richard-Wagner-Verband Hamburg e.V. for the Richard Wagner Festival 2020, which was unable to take place as scheduled due to the pandemic.
He is now looking forward to joining the more than 60 scholarship holders who will be participating in the scholarship programme of the Richard Wagner Scholarship Foundation in 2021.
Vita
He obtained his high school diploma at Yein Music Art High School in the Republic of Korea (South Korea). He then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano from Chugye University for the Arts, Republic of Korea (South Korea). This was followed by postgraduate studies in conducting for choir and voice at the West University of Timișoara in Romania graduating with a Master of Music. He completed the project course for song composition and vocal correpetition at the Hamburger Konservatorium. Further studies in Piano, Duo with Pianists and Music Accompaniment at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany, earned him another Master of Music degree.
chronological curriculum vitae
03.1994 – 02.2000
Gwangju Dong Elementary School, Republic of Korea (South Korea)
03.2000 – 02.2003
Gwangju Dongshin Middle School, Republic of Korea (South Korea)
03.2003 – 02.2006
Yein Music Art High School, Republic of Korea (South Korea)
03.2006 – 02.2011
Chugye University for the Arts, Republic of Korea (South Korea) – Bachelor of Music majoring in Piano under Prof. Soyoung Yu
2012 – 2014
West University of Timișoara, Romania – Master of Music in Conducting for Choir and Voice under Prof. Peter Oschanitzky
2015
German B1 Telc Language Tests
ALTE Association of Language Testers in Europe / Berlin
2016 – 2017
Hamburger Konservatorium
Song composition and vocal correpetition
under Prof. Henning Lucius
2017 – 2021
Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Master’s programme focussed on Piano, Duo with Pianists – Music Accompaniment under Prof. Xaver Poncette
Impressions
References / Concerts
03.2006 Freelance repetiteur for church choir, opera and concert singers
Venue: Gwangju and Seoul, Republic of Korea (South Korea)
12.2012 Christmas concert of the West University of Timișoara as conductor of the student choir
Venue: Concert hall at the Timisoara Faculty of Music in Romania
06.2013 Festival concert of the West University of Timișoara as conductor of the student choir
Venue: Concert hall at the Timisoara Faculty of Music in Romania
2014 Repetiteur – West University of Timișoara – Student project
Opera project “Il Tabarro”
2014 Concert evening at the West University of Timișoara for solo piano
Venue: Baroque Art Museum Hall in Timișoara, Romania
2014 Repetiteur – West University of Timișoara – Theatre in Timișoara with and for opera singers of the theatre and students of the University of Timișoara
Opera project “The Magic Flute”
05.2016 Goldenes Wien
Song accompaniment for students of the Hamburger Konservatorium
Venue: Evangelical Island Church in Norderney
07.2016 “Who is afraid of 20th Century Songs?”
Song accompaniment for students of the Hamburger Konservatorium
Venue: Konservatorium Concert Hall in Hamburg
02.2017 Goldenes Wien
Song- Schmankerl der Mozartzeit
Song accompaniment for students of the Hamburger Konservatorium
Venue: Maria Magdalena Church in Osdorfer Born, Hamburg
02.2017 Operetta concert by students of the Hamburger Konservatorium
Ort: Konservatorium Concert Hall in Hamburg
03.2017 Final Concert of Artistic Aptitude
Soprano: Kyonghwa Min (Student from the Hamburger Konservatorium)
Venue: Konservatorium Concert Hall in Hamburg
07.2017 Goldenes Wien
Song accompaniment for students of the Hamburger Konservatorium
Venue: Elbschloss Residenz in Hamburg
01.2018 Concert by the Song Class
Song accompaniment by students of the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen
Venue: Dorfkirche Isenbügel in Heiligenhaus
07.2018 Final concert by the Song Course
Song accompaniment by students of the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen
Venue: Small Concert Hall in Folkwang University Campus, Duisburg
01.2019 Song recital
Song accompaniment by students of the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen
Venue: Dorfkirche Isenbügel in Heiligenhaus
03.2019 Spring Concert – Song accompaniment by international students
Ort: Stellinger Kirche – Hamburg
06.2019 Master’s graduation concert of Heechul Yang
at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen
Venue: Chamber Music Hall, Essen-Werden
07.2019 Final concert by the Song Course
Song accompaniment by students of the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen
Venue: Small Concert Hall in Folkwang University Campus, Duisburg
Projects / Cooperations
Every musician depends on their skills. Heechul is defined by his interpretations and talents. That is why Heechul is always interested in connecting with project partners who wish to break new ground together. His goal is to experiment and explore his entire artistic range, and therefore reserves a portion of his time for musical artistic projects. If you are planning a project and are looking for reinforcement, you can get in touch here.
The planned choir project “New Age” is a matter close to his heart. The musical spectrum will range from classical music to gospel and modern pop interpretations. Here, age is not a factor. Heechul always says: “Every voice has its own sound! It’s up to us to work together to find out what music suits you.” Anyone who enjoys singing and making music is welcome to sign up for this project.