South Korean soprano Gyu Yeon Shim is quickly becoming a rising star on the operatic stages with a charming presence.
She was the 1st place winner of the Metropolitan National Council Audition for the District of Connecticut in 2015 and won a 3rd place in the New England Regional Finals in 2016. Her notable achievements at various competitions include: a semi-finalist at the Premiere Opera Competition in 2019, a finalist at the Versimo Opera Competition in 2018, a winner of the Opera Susquehanna Voice Competition in 2018, 1st place at the American Protégé International Vocal Competition in 2017, 1st place as well as the Platinum Award at the Forte International Competition held at the Carnegie Hall in 2015, and 2nd place at Meistersinger-Gesangwettbewerb held in Graz, Austria in 2014.
Some of her highlights from recent seasons include: the title role of Shim-Chung in A. Inglese’s Shim-Chung, which was the world premiere opera with the International Opera Theater of Philadelphia in Città della Pieve, Italy, the Sleep and Dew Fairy in E. Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel with the New York Performing Arts, and Celia Handel’s Silla with the Cambridge Chamber Ensemble.
Her operatic engagements include Lakmé in Delibes’ Lakmé with the Opera Delaware, Fiakermilli in R. Strauss’ Arabella with the Pittsburgh Festival Opera (where she was as a resident artist), Adele in J. Strauss’ Die Fledermaus as debut at the Daegu Opera House in South Korea, Königin der Nacht in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and Dalinda in Handel’s Ariodante with the Chautauqua Music Festival, Housewife named Minji, in Yoon-Ji Lee’s Sunday Supper which was the world premier contemporary opera at the National Sawdust, La Fée in P. Viardot’s Cendrillon with the Stafford Opera Troupe in Virginia and the Cambridge Chamber Ensemble in Boston, Morgana in Handel’s Alcina and Poppeain Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea at the National Opera Center in New York, La Fée in Massenet’s Cendrillon at the Curtler Majestic hall in Boston, Nella in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi at the New England Conservatory, and Königin der Nacht in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte at the Manhattan School of Music.
On the concert stages, Ms. Shim has performed as a soloist in Gounod’s Gloria Messe Solennell with the New York Korean Church, Mozart’s Exultate, jubilate with the Westchester Korean Choral Society, Handel’s Messiah with the New York Cho Dae Church, and Haydn’s Creation with the First Unitarian Church.
Ms. Shim has a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance from Korea National University of Arts. She also holds a Graduate Diploma in Opera Performance from New England Conservatory, and currently works at Stafford Opera Troupe and Mozart Music Academy as a faculty member.
