KYEONG HAM

By winning the 66th ARD International Music Competition in Munich 2017 (Second Prize ex-aequo, BR Klassik Online Prize, No first prize was given)

Kyeong Ham has established himself as one of the most engaging and outstanding oboist of his generation.

He started playing the oboe in Seoul where he grew up. At the age of 15 he relocated to Germany to pursue his studies with Nicholas Daniel at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Trossingen. and later at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin with Dominik Wollenweber. at the age of 20 he became a Scholarship holder of the Herbert von Karajan Academy of Berlin Philharmonic where he was taught by Jonathan Kelly.

His talent and endeavour in oboe were proven with numerous prizes, including his stunning First Prizes at the Richard Lauschmann International Oboe Competition in Mannheim (2009), Tchaikovsky Conservatory International Winds and Percussion Competition in Moscow (2010), Iris Marquardt Prize (2010), International Academic Oboe and Bassoon Competition in Lódz, Poland (2011). In April 2013 Kyeong Ham was named the winner at the Muri International Oboe Competition in Switzerland, where he received not only First Prize but also Audience Prize from the impressive margin in the final round, and the Heinz Holliger Special Prize from Holliger himself. 

As soloist, Kyeong has appeared with Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Baden-Baden Philharmonie, Argovia Philharmonic, Ensemble CHAART.

​

In the 2020/21 season Kyeong appeared as soloist twice with his own Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Performing Bach oboe concerto led by Kreeta-Maria Kentala and gave the world premiere of oboe concerto `Incandescece´

by Maija Hynninen. 

​

He is also frequently asked to play as guest principal oboist with many European leading orchestras, such as

Budapest Festival Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Mahler Chamber Orchestra,

SWR Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra,  BBC Symphony Orchestra, 

Bergen Philharmonic, Malmö Symphoniker, Lapland Chamber Orchestra.

He has an affinity for chamber music and regularly invited to play at prestige Chamber Music Festivals around the world. such as Kuhmo (Finland), Davos (Switzerland), Ostfriesland (Germany), Molyvos (Greece), Zeven Bruggenkwartier (Netherland). and is a founding member of the Veits Woodwind Quintet, which was awarded Second prize at the Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition in Copenhagen in 2015. the quintet's first recording was released in 2016 on the ARS label. 

Kyeong served as Solo English horn at the Konzerthausorchester Berlin and principal oboe at the State Opera Hannover.  

At age 23 Kyeong won the position of second oboe and english horn at the prestige Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam and worked for two seasons which brought him all over the world performing in exciting venues (such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Royal Albert Hall in London, Philharmonie Paris..etc) under the baton of the greatest conductors.  

Currently Kyeong holds the position of 

   1st Principal Oboe of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Helsinki. and He is also a part time tutor at the Sibelius Academy University of Arts Helsinki. 

​

He has given masterclass at Guildhall School or Music and Drama London,

Austrailian National Academy of Music Melbourne, SUNY Purchase New York.

​

His debut Album `TAWO´ with internationally acclaimed pianist Yeoleum Son was released in February 2020

on 7 Mountain Records (features works by Skalkottas, Hindemith, Dorati, Norman, Salonen, Haas) 

and his second album (complete W.F.Bach duo and J.S.Bach, C.Ph.E.Bach sonatas )

with acclaimed flutist Sunghyun Cho was released in summer 2023.

​

Kyeong is a Marigaux artist and plays M2 oboe.