Esther Yoo

Esther Yoo, an American-Korean violinist, is the first ever Artist-in-Residence with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – a year long residency starting in 2018. She first came to international attention in 2010 when she became the youngest prizewinner of the 10th International Sibelius Violin Competition, and from 2014 to 2016 she was a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist, culminating with her BBC Proms debut.

The 2017/18 season sees Esther debut with the Orchestre National de Belgique, Orchestra Teatro San Carlo, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and the symphony orchestras of Vancouver, Bay Atlantic and Hawaii. Chamber highlights include a recital performance at LSO St. Luke’s as part of the festival week celebrating Simon Rattle’s first season as the London Symphony Orchestra Music Director.

Born in the US and raised in Europe since the age of six, she began playing the violin at the age of four and made her concerto debut aged eight. In 2012 she was one of the youngest ever prizewinners of the Queen Elisabeth Competition. She is currently a student of Ana Chumachenco in the Excellence Bachelor Programme at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich, and continues to receive mentorship from Augustin Dumay after completing the Artist Diploma Programme at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Brussels. Prior to this, she worked with Zakhar Bron, Leonid Kerbel and Berent Korfker.

Esther Yoo plays the 1704 “Prince Obolensky” Stradivarius, generously lent to her by a private collector.