Early Life & Yunchan Lim’s Age
Yunchan Lim was born on March 20, 2004 in Siheung, South Korea. Yunchan Lim’s Age is 21 years old as of June 2025. He began piano lessons at age 7, rapidly advancing through formal training at Seoul Arts Center and later the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts by age 13.
Rising Through Competitions
Lim’s early accolades include:
- Age 14–15: Second Prize & Chopin Award at the 2018 Cleveland International, and Third Prize plus Audience Prize at the Cooper Competition.
- Age 15: Youngest-ever winner of Korea’s Isang Yun International Competition (2019).
Van Cliburn Triumph
In June 2022, at just 18 years old, Lim became the youngest ever to win the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, earning the Gold Medal, Audience Award, and Best Performance of a New Work. His riveting live rendition of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 became a viral sensation—topping YouTube’s classical charts with over 17?million views.
Global Breakout
Since his Cliburn victory:
- Brief collaborations with world-class orchestras such as the NY Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic, Chicago, Lucerne, BBC, Boston, and Tokyo Philharmonic.
- Recitals at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Disney Hall, and Abu Dhabi Festival, where critics considered his Goldberg Variations for Bach as among the finest in recent years.
Recording, Awards & Recognition
- Signed with Decca Classics in October?2023.
- Recorded Chopin: Études Opp.?10 &?25 in April?2024—winning the Gramophone 2024 Piano Award.
- His previously released Live from the Cliburn Liszt Études album hit Billboard’s Traditional Classical Albums chart at #5 in July?2023.
- Named an Apple Music Classical Global Ambassador in January 2024.
- In late 2024, his Chopin recording was lauded as one of the Boston Globe’s top 10 classical albums of 2024.
Musical Style & Critical Acclaim
Lim is praised for combining raw virtuosity with deep musical insight. Critics describe his playing as “volcanic,” “profound,” and “magical,” often noting that his interpretations feel uniquely personal. Audiences appreciate his bold, emotionally intense yet thoughtful performances.
What’s Next
At 21 years old, Lim’s 2024–25 season includes debuts with the Washington National Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, Vienna Radio Symphony, and recital returns to Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, and New York Philharmonic.
In Summary
Yunchan Lim’s journey—from a 7-year-old beginner to a 21-year-old classical powerhouse—illustrates a meteoric rise marked by record-breaking achievements, viral performances, prestigious awards, and global acclaim. With his combination of technical brilliance and expressive depth, he is one of the most compelling classical artists of his generation.
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