Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra to Make Historic Debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall

[Financial News] The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra has become the first Korean orchestra to receive an official invitation to perform in a curated concert at Carnegie Hall in New York.
According to the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, the ensemble will embark on a tour from October 27 to November 1, performing at Carnegie Hall in New York and the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts in Oklahoma. Marking its 80th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of its foundation, the orchestra returns to American audiences for the first time in 13 years since its 2012 North American tour. This large-scale overseas tour comes three years after its European tour in 2022.
Music Director Jaap van Zweden, who previously led the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, will conduct the performances. The program will feature world premieres by composers Jung Jae-il and Donghoon Shin, as well as performances by renowned Korean musicians such as Bomsori Kim and Park Jae-hong, showcasing the prominence of K-Classical music on the global stage. The tour is supported by the SeAH Woonhyung Lee Foundation and presented in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center New York.

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s U.S. tour will open on October 27 at 8 p.m. at the Stern Auditorium of Carnegie Hall in New York. By being featured in the 2025/26 season’s 'International Festival of Orchestra II' series at Carnegie Hall, the orchestra will further cement its reputation and highlight Seoul’s status as a cultural city in the global classical music scene.
The concert will take place at Stern Auditorium, the largest venue in Carnegie Hall with 2,790 seats. The orchestra will present the U.S. premiere of 'Inferno,' a new work by composer Jung Jae-il, who is widely known as the music director for 'Parasite' and 'Squid Game.'
Internationally acclaimed Korean violinist Bomsori Kim, who is currently the artist-in-residence with the Residentie Orkest The Hague for the 2025/26 season, will perform Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. The program also includes Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, a masterpiece of Russian Romanticism.
Music Director Jaap van Zweden remarked, “The invitation to Carnegie Hall marks a significant milestone in the history of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and I am proud to be part of it as music director. Carnegie Hall is one of the world’s premier concert halls, imbued with historic magic. It is a special honor to stand on that stage with Korea’s leading orchestra.”

From October 29 to November 1, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will continue its tour at the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts in Oklahoma. The schedule includes concerts for local citizens and masterclasses for music students, led by orchestra members. Violinist Bomsori Kim and pianist Park Jae-hong will join the tour, with four performances scheduled at the McKnight Center.
On October 29, pianist Park Jae-hong, who has performed with the orchestra since winning the 2021 Busoni Competition, will join members of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra for an intimate chamber music concert.
On October 30, the orchestra will perform 'Upon His Ghostly Solitude,' a new work jointly commissioned from emerging composer Donghoon Shin by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil), and Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. The program also features Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2.
On October 31, the orchestra will invite students from Oklahoma State University and local residents to a concert featuring familiar works. In addition to the public concert, masterclasses for music students in the region will also be held.
On November 1, the orchestra will perform Jung Jae-il’s 'Inferno,' followed by Rachmaninoff’s 'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini' with pianist Park Jae-hong, and conclude the tour with Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 1.
Jung Jae-wal, CEO of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, stated, “It is deeply meaningful to present works by emerging Korean composers at the prestigious Carnegie Hall and to perform with young, talented Korean artists who are gaining global attention. We hope this U.S. tour will symbolize the globalization of K-Classical and instill a sense of pride in Koreans around the world.”


jashin@fnnews.com Shin Jin-ah Reporter