Mikyung Sung

Here is the future of the double-bass.
Szymon Marciniak
She is the most expressive of all the bass soloists playing today.
Peter Lloyd
It is impossible to forget her enormous gift as a musician and instrumentalist.
Arnold Steinhardt
She is able to make the Double Bass sing in a way that fills the listener's heart with joy.
Dominic Seldis
Her virtuosic performances will take your breath away, but more importantly she is one of the most expressive musicians I've ever heard.
Geoff Chalmers
One of the greatest performances of my piece ("A Carmen Fantasy") I have ever heard.
Frank Proto
She is single handedly changing the face of bass playing throughout the world.
Dominic Seldis
Mikyung Sung is a real musician – perfect technique, sound, phrasing. So intuitive, spontaneous, but yet so much maturity and wisdom.
Szymon Marciniak
Beautiful artistry. A wonderful and virtuous player. It was a great pleasure working with Mikyung.
Yehuda Gilad
She is one of the best bass players of the young generation!! An inspiration for young bassists.
Bogusław Furtok
Experience the passion and artistry of Mikyung Sung as she explores the colors of the double bass.

Upcoming Concerts

2024

Recital at Penn State Bass Day

Date
- 4:45 pm
Location
Recital Hall, Penn State University School of Music, State College, PA
Performers:
  • Mikyung Sung, double bass
  • Dominik Wagner, double bass
  • Patricia Weitzel, double bass
  • Paul Thompson, double bass
  • Seulki Susie Yoo, piano
Program:
  • Gliere: Intermezzo from Two Pieces for Double Bass and Piano, Op. 9
  • Gliere: Tarantella from Two Pieces for Double Bass and Piano, Op. 9
  • Bottesini: Elegy No. 2 (Romanza Drammatica)
  • Piazzolla: Oblivion
  • Europa: The Final Countdown (arr. Johan Strindberg for double bass quartet)

Mikyung will also teach masterclasses on both March 22 and 23.

More information

Masterclass at Stanford University

Date
- 7:30 pm
Location
Campbell Recital Hall, Braun Music Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Performers:
  • Mikyung Sung, double bass
Program:

Masterclass at SFCM

Date
- 7:30 pm
Location
Cha Chi Ming Recital Hall, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco, CA
Performers:
  • Mikyung Sung, double bass
Program:

Recital at Roswell Music Club

Date
- 3:30 pm
Location
Mimosa Hall and Gardens, Roswell, GA
Performers:
  • Mikyung Sung, double bass
  • David Troy Francis, piano
Program:

Videos

Latest

Finnish Tango - Baden-Baden Potpourri - Emeth Ensemble [Life & Sharing Concert]

Bottesini Gran Duetto No. 2 with Nina DeCesare

Featured

Bottesini: Concerto No. 2 (Bradetich Competition)

Monti: Czardas (648th House Concert)

Pictures

Latest

"For the Record" feature in Strings Magazine (Jan/Feb 2024)
The Colburn Sessions
The Colburn Sessions artist portrait
The Colburn Sessions CD tray back

About Mikyung Sung

Mikyung Sung gives some of the most fearlessly virtuosic and engaging performances heard on the double bass, most notable for her bel canto lyricism and emotional expression. She came to the attention of bassists around the world through videos of her performances while studying for her Artist Diploma at the Colburn School in Los Angeles

Since her professional debut at age 12 with the Guri Philharmonic, Mikyung has performed as soloist with orchestras such as the Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie, Philharmonie Baden-Baden, Philharmonia Corea, Colburn Orchestra, Seongnam Philharmonic, and Atlanta Festival Youth Orchestra. She has performed at Seoul Arts Center, Lotte Concert Hall, Kumho Art Hall, the Pyeongchang Great Mountains Music Festival, Ditto Festival, Palm Springs Life Festival with Sarah Chang, Music From Angel Fire, and The House Concert series in Korea. She has also been featured on KBS Classic FM, TBS FM 95.1, and SBS radio in Korea.

Initially taught by her double-bassist father, Mikyung spent six years concertizing across South Korea as a double bass duo with her brother while studying at Korea National University of Arts, often with her mother accompanying on piano, and including several appearances on KBS television. She also won first prize in several Korean music competitions. In 2010 at age 17, she took first prize in the International J.M. Sperger Double Bass Competition in Germany as well as the audience prize and special jury prize (having placed 4th two years before). In 2015 at the ISB Competition in Colorado, she received the Thomas Martin prize for the best performance of a work by Bottesini, and second place overall. In 2017 at the Bradetich Competition in Texas she received the internet-voted prize for best finals performance and Honorable Mention overall.

In the 2018-19 season, Mikyung was a Principal Bassist of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and taught at the Shanghai Orchestra Academy. Mikyung formed her Emeth Ensemble double bass quartet with several friends in 2020. In 2023, she moved to the Atlanta area in the United States with her husband and son, and her debut album, "The Colburn Sessions", recorded at The Colburn School with pianist Jaemin Shin, has been receiving glowing reviews.

Read more about Mikyung »