Tong-Il Han
Encyclopedia
Han Tong-il is a South Korea
n pianist
.
, an area now part of North Korea
. He began learning the piano and musical composition from his father at the age of 4. He fled south during the Korean War
, ending up in Seoul
. He was a guest on the classic American
game show
, I've Got a Secret
, hosted by Steve Allen
. Han's secret was that, as a young child, he was discovered during the Korean War
and General Samuel E. Anderson
arranged a tour at the USA bases in Japan where they raised money for the young child.
, where his teachers included Rosina Lhévinne
. In 1965, at 23, he won the prestigious Leventritt Competition
.
His subsequent career has included numerous performances with major symphony orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic
, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
, Los Angeles Philharmonic
, Cleveland Orchestra
, Detroit Symphony, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, Royal Scottish National Orchestra
and the Oslo Philharmonic.
Han-il recorded Schubert's Sonata No. 20 in A (D 959) and Brahms' Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor (Opus 5) for SEM Gramophone.
, University of North Texas
and Boston University
. He returned to Korea in 2005, where he served first as Dean of the College of Music and then as Chair Professor of Music at University of Ulsan
. He has also served as Guest Professor at Elisabeth University of Music
in Hiroshima, Japan. In March 2007 he began teaching at Suncheon University
, Suncheon, Korea
.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
.
Background
Han was born in Hamheung, South Hamgyong, KoreaKorea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, an area now part of North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. He began learning the piano and musical composition from his father at the age of 4. He fled south during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, ending up in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. He was a guest on the classic American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
, I've Got a Secret
I've Got a Secret
I've Got a Secret is a panel game show produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman for CBS television. Created by comedy writers Allan Sherman and Howard Merrill, it was a derivative of Goodson-Todman's own panel show What's My Line?...
, hosted by Steve Allen
Steve Allen
Steve Allen may refer to:*Steve Allen , American musician, comedian, and writer*Steve Allen , presenter on the London-based talk radio station LBC 97.3...
. Han's secret was that, as a young child, he was discovered during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and General Samuel E. Anderson
Samuel E. Anderson
General Samuel Egbert Anderson was a United States Air Force four star general who served as commander of the Air Material Command.He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1906...
arranged a tour at the USA bases in Japan where they raised money for the young child.
Musical career
Han left South Korea on 1 June 1954. He went to the USA with General Anderson to attend JuilliardJuilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, where his teachers included Rosina Lhévinne
Rosina Lhévinne
Rosina Bessie Lhévinne was a Russian American pianist and famed pedagogue....
. In 1965, at 23, he won the prestigious Leventritt Competition
Leventritt Competition
The Leventritt Competition was a highly prestigious international competition for classical pianists and violinists. It was founded in 1939 by the Edgar M. Leventritt Foundation Inc. of Cold Spring, New York, in memory of jurist Edgar M. Leventritt....
.
His subsequent career has included numerous performances with major symphony orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
, Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
, Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
, Detroit Symphony, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
and the Oslo Philharmonic.
Han-il recorded Schubert's Sonata No. 20 in A (D 959) and Brahms' Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor (Opus 5) for SEM Gramophone.
Academic career
Han went on to teach in the music departments of Indiana University, Illinois State UniversityIllinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
, University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
and Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. He returned to Korea in 2005, where he served first as Dean of the College of Music and then as Chair Professor of Music at University of Ulsan
University of Ulsan
The University of Ulsan was founded on February 19, 1969 as the Ulsan Institute of Technology. The University was promoted to a full-fledged University on March 1, 1985...
. He has also served as Guest Professor at Elisabeth University of Music
Elisabeth University of Music
is a private university in Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1948, and it was chartered as a university in 1963.-External links:*...
in Hiroshima, Japan. In March 2007 he began teaching at Suncheon University
Suncheon
Suncheon or Sunchon is the name of two Korean cities:*Sunchon, North Korea*Suncheon, South Korea...
, Suncheon, Korea
Suncheon
Suncheon or Sunchon is the name of two Korean cities:*Sunchon, North Korea*Suncheon, South Korea...
.