▲ Flutist Jasmine Choi

If BTS is creating a global heat wave in K-Pop, flutist Jasmine Choi is doing the same in K-Classic with her brilliant talent in music and stunning charm. <Power Korea> met her and her mother.

10 Best Flutists in the History of Music
The melody starts slowly at first. It builds the speed gradually and reaches to the point of a swirling tempest; her body moves from gentle to wavy as her emotion flows in response to the melody; the flute on her lips does not seem to have any intention to be separated but only draws the souls of the audience into a magical world of music. 

“Jasmine Choi is a revisionist"- Philadelphia Inquirer; "Anyone who hears Jasmine Choi's performance will encounter a totally new level of flute playing” - Nikkei Daily Newspaper, Japan; "One of 10 best flutists in the history of music"- Sinfini Magazine, UK. "The goddess of flute"- Korea Times; Sinfini Magazine especially selected her as one of the 10 best flutists in the history of music in 2015 along with Marcel Moyse, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Julius Baker, James Galway and Emmanuel Pahud; and she is a full-time soloist giving almost 100 concerts each season.

Before her full-time career as a soloist has begun, Choi was the first Korean musician to hold a post in Vienna Symphony Orchestra when she joined as principal flute under Fabio Luisi, as well as the first Korean woodwind musician in the US when she joined Cincinnati Symphony under Paavo Jarvi.

She became the 2018 Artist-In-Residence at Sejong Arts Center in Seoul, the oldest classical concert hall in South Korea, giving four different recital programs throughout the year. In addition, the New York Classical Players has recently announced Choi as their Artist-In-Residence for the next three seasons (2018-2021) and will commission three flute concertos for her followed by world-premiere performances; its Facebook page is broadcasting the live to the world audience and the YouTube channel has surpassed 6.2 million hits already. 

Brilliant talent and passion in music from early age
“Jasmine went to Austria when she was a child and cried many a night when she came back to go back to Austria again. She then showed her great zeal and passion through her years at Yewon School and Seoul Arts High School” says her mother. 

Praised as “A big sensation” by Julius Baker, Choi entered Curtis Institute of Music with a full scholarship at the age of 16 and is remained as the last pupil of late Julius Baker. She moved on to The Juilliard School and studied under the instruction of Jeffrey Khaner and thereafter gave master performances at The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, Colburn School, Manhattan School of Music, Indiana State Univeristy, University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, and College for Music and Theater Munich. 

She has performed as a soloist with the Berlin Symphony at the Philharmonie's New Year's Eve concert, and with Vienna Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, Salzburg Mozarteum, St.Petersburg Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, Salzburg Mozart Players, Würzburg Philharmonic, Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, New York Classical Players, Sarasota Orchestra, Turku Philharmonic in Finland, Seoul Philharmonic and KBS Symphony in Korea, Osaka Symphony and Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa in Japan, as well as at recitals in Paris, Vienna, London, Munich, New York, Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong. 

It is also notable that her performance was featured during the 2018 Winter Olympics’ celebrations in PyeongChang, South Korea. As for the year 2019, she has been scheduled to perform in China, Taiwan and Singapore to make a debut in the regions. She released 7 albums and has added 3 more singles this year already.

“I remember that I watched concerts following my conductor grandfather on my mother side when I was a little girl. He founded Cheongju Philharmonic Orchestra and served as the music director for 17 years. I used to hang around with him listening to great recordings and it still makes me smile time to time when I think of those good old days” says Choi.

Versatility and unflagging energy
“Music has no boundaries and borders” believes Choi. Likewise, her versatility in use of musical instruments has no boundaries and borders either. From classic and modern to jazz, pop and improvisation and from playing to editing, her imaginations and creativities have been well received and praised from both professionals and the audience through over 100 times of performances a year; despite her mother’s worry of her daughter’s health, her energy is just tireless. 

“Flute for me is like chameleon. Whichever song I play, I feel like it becomes flexible like it changes its color according the surroundings and moods. It truly is a magical moment for me to grab my flute and put it onto my lips. It is the very moment I change myself into the song I play. In other words, I become the song and the song becomes me.”

<Power Korea> gives cheers to Choi and wishes her all the best and successes.