Hyun Jung Song appointed new principal oboist of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
South Korean oboist Hyun Jung Song has successfully completed her trial period as principal oboist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and is now a permanent member of the renowned British symphony orchestra. The 27-year-old is currently completing her Konzertexamen at the Eisler School under Prof. Dominik Wollenweber and Prof. Viola Wilmsen. She had previously studied with Prof. Wollenweber for her bachelor's and master's degrees since 2017.
Born in Seoul, Hyun Jung Song began her musical training with the flute and piano. At the age of nine, she switched to the oboe. Her school and musical education took her to Yewon School, Seoul Arts High School, Seoul National University and finally to Germany.
She received important artistic inspiration as a member of the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, where she was mentored by oboist Christoph Hartmann and gained valuable orchestral experience. Hyun Jung Song has already performed as a guest solo oboist with the German Symphony Orchestra Berlin and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, among others. She has also played with renowned ensembles such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the WDR Symphony Orchestra, the German Radio Philharmonic and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra.
She is also active in chamber music and early music, for example with the ZeMu! Ensemble for Contemporary Music and the Berlin Baroque Soloists. Festival appearances have taken her to Zermatt, Krzyżowa and Lucerne, among other places. In 2023, she was awarded second prize at the International Oboe Competition of Japan in Tokyo.