Since April 2012, South Korean violinist Ilyoung Chae has played in the London Philharmonic Orchestra, fourth chair in first violins. She began this position shortly after being accepted at the Karajan Academy of Berlin Philharmoniker.
Ms. Chae began playing the violin at age eight, and two years later gave a performance of Mozart violin concerto in A major with Pusan Sinfonietta. At the age of 15 she was invited to perform under Jose Cura at Tetra Pak’s 50th anniversary celebration in San Carlo Theatre in Italy. Ilyoung moved to London in 1999 to study at The Yehudi Menuhin School with Natasha Boyarsky, Loutsia Ibragimova and Rosemary Warren-Green. She graduated with first-class honours in Bachelor Music and distinction in Music Performance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was awarded full scholarship to study with David Takeno between 2005 and 2011. She is a recipient of the London Philharmonic Orchestra Foyle Future Firsts Programme, London Symphony Orchestra String Experience Scheme, Geoffrey Shaw scholarship, Music Education Award, Postgraduate Performance award from Musicians Benevolent Fund, The Philharmonia Orchestra Martin Musical Scholarship Fund, an award from the Craxton Memorial Trust, and the Gwyn Ellis Bursary, Ethel Schwartz and Bratza Memorial awards from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
A keen chamber musician, Ms. Chae took part in Maistra Chamber Music Sessions (2006-2011) and has performed Beethoven’s septet, Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden” and Strauss’ “Till Eulenspiegel” for quintet at the Barbican Hall. She gives concerts abroad and in the U.K. and has performed at venues such as the Blenheim Palace, Hatfield House, National Gallery, Regent Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall, Barbican Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Menuhin Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. She has taken part in various festivals such as the Menuhin festival in Gstaad (Switzerland), Music Alp festival (France), Paxos (Greece), Chacombe, Chelsea, City of London, Battle Prom, North York Moors and IMS Prussia Cove (UK).