JIJI, guitar @ The Baker-Baum Concert Hall

First Prize, 2016 Concert Artist Guild Competition

A bold, compelling, South Korean virtuoso, at home on both classical and electric guitar, a champion of cutting-edge composers worldwide. Praised by The Washington Post for her “mesmerizing” and “stirring” performances, JIJIis an exciting guitarist known for her virtuosity and command of diverse repertoire. Her concert programs range from traditional and contemporary classical to free improvisation.

JIJI is an adventurous artist on both acoustic and electric guitar, playing an extensive range of music from traditional and contemporary classical music to free improvisation. Her impeccable musicianship combined with compelling stage presence and fascinating repertoire earned the Korean guitarist First Prize at the 2016 Concert Artists Guild International Competition.

Career highlights include a wide array of venues, including Carnegie Hall, 92nd Street Y, Festival Napa Valley, Krannert Center, Purdue Convocations, Virginia Arts Festival, National Sawdust, Miller theater, Mass MOCA, Subculture NYC, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Princeton Sound Kitchen, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She recently performed at the Green Music Center, Market Square Concerts, University of Delaware, and in concertos with the Richmond Symphony and Sinfonietta Riga in Latvia.

A passionate advocate of new music, JIJI has premiered a duo piece, “Talking Guitars,” by renowned composer Paul Lansky, released on Bridge Records. She has premiered works by numerous emerging composers, including Nina C. Young, Gabriella Smith, Riho Maimets, Krists Auznieks, Gulli Björnsson, Andrew McIntosh, and Farnood HaghaniPour. Her music is influenced by her regular activities as a DJ, where she highlights the electronic dance styles of happy hardcore and Berlin experimental electronica. As a chamber musician, she performed with members of Eighth Blackbird, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Wild Up, and the Aizuri Quartet. Her performances have been featured on PBS, NPR’s From the Top, WHYY-TV, FOX 4-TV, Munchies, The Not So Late Show, and Hong Kong broadcast station RTHK’s The Works.

JIJI is currently based in Tempe, Arizona, where she holds the post of Assistant Professor of Guitar at Arizona State University. She is sponsored by D’Addario Strings.