Ivan Galamian

The Park Sisters perform Ignacy Jan Paderewski--Sonata Op. 13 for Violin and Piano

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• published: 28 Oct 2016
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A live concert performance by violinist, Mi-Young Park and pianist, Pong-Hi Park, recorded at Carnegie Recital Hall on November 16, 1979, on reel-to-reel tape. THE PARK SISTERS Mi-Young and Pong-Hi Park were born in Seoul Korea. While still in grade school, they began performing together as a violin-piano duo. For almost fifty years they concertized as the Park Sisters, delighting a wide range of audiences with repertoire spanning over three centuries. A number of their recitals were taped. Fortunately, some have survived and are being digitalized for posting on Youtube. As siblings performing together from an early age, they achieved an admirable unity of ensemble and displayed the highest level of musicianship. Mi-Young Park began her violin studies at the age of seven. After winning First Prize at the Korean National Music Competition in Seoul, she appeared as soloist with the Seoul Philharmonic and the Korean Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra. At age fourteen, she was accepted by Efrem Zimbalist as a full scholarship student to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Upon Zimbalist’s retirement, Ms. Park continued her studies with Ivan Galamian and Paul Makanowitzky. While at the Curtis Institute and following her graduation, she performed as soloist and member of Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and in recital with her sister Pong-Hi. Pong-Hi Park began studying piano when she was four years old and was considered a child prodigy. She performed extensively in the Far East before coming to the USA to pursue advanced study with Leon Fleisher at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. Upon her graduation from Peabody, she received a Master of Arts degree and the coveted Artist Diploma. Soon after, she taught at Wilson College (PA) and then was asked to head the piano department at Dickinson College in Carlisle PA where she instructed for over 30 years. She continued to concertize with orchestra, in solo recital, and in duo with her sister. They performed together until 2005. Mi-Young is now retired and living in southern New Jersey. Pong-Hi Park passed away in late 2011.