Hyeyeon Seok, Pianist
September 12, 2026 • 7:00 PM
Tickets ($10) can be purchased at the door or by calling: 608-846-5731
About the Artist
Hyeyeon Seok
South Korean pianist Hyeyeon Seok has established a versatile career as a soloist,
chamber musician, and collaborative pianist. She has performed in the United States,
South Korea, and Europe, with musical activities spanning solo recitals, chamber music,
and collaborations with instrumentalists, vocalists, and choral ensembles.
Seok has received numerous awards and honors, including First Prize at the Charleston
Piano Competition and the Sagye Piano Competition, as well as the Edda Valborg Ofstie
Memorial Award from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She was also a finalist in the
University of Wisconsin–Madison Concerto Competition. Most recently, she participated in
the 2026 Mannes International Piano Festival in New York City, where she performed and
worked with distinguished international artists.
She received her musical training at Seoul National University, the University of Cincinnati
College-Conservatory of Music, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she
earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance under the guidance of Professor
Christopher Taylor. Her principal teachers have also included Dr. Dror Biran and Hyoung
Joon Chang.
Currently based in Madison, Wisconsin, Seok serves as Pianist for the Columbus
Chamber Choir and continues an active career as a solo, chamber, and collaborative
pianist. She believes that music is, above all, a way of connecting with others, and she
strives to create performances that invite audiences to experience and share in the music
with her. As an educator, she values meeting each student where they are and helping
them discover their own way of understanding, expressing, and enjoying music.
Program Notes
Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, K. 281
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
I. Allegro
II. Andante amoroso
III. Rondeau: Allegro
Mozart’s Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, K. 281, reflects the elegance, clarity, and balance
characteristic of the Classical style. The energetic opening Allegro is followed by the graceful and
expressive Andante amoroso. The final Rondeau brings the sonata to a lively close, with its
recurring theme creating a playful dialogue throughout the movement.
Träumerei, Op. 15, No. 7
Robert Schumann
One of Schumann’s most beloved piano works, Träumerei (“Dreaming”) comes from Kinderszenen
(Scenes from Childhood), a collection reflecting an adult’s poetic remembrance of childhood. Its
simple, lyrical melody and gentle accompaniment create an atmosphere of tenderness, intimacy, and
nostalgia.
Prelude in G Major, Op. 32, No. 5
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G Major is one of the most lyrical of his preludes. A serene, singing
melody emerges above a delicate, flowing accompaniment, creating a sense of spaciousness and
contemplation. Subtle changes in harmony and texture allow the music to grow in intensity before
returning to the quiet atmosphere of its opening.
La leggierezza, S. 144, No. 2
Franz Liszt
La leggierezza, meaning “lightness,” is one of Liszt’s Three Concert Études. Rapid passagework
and delicate figurations demand extraordinary control from the pianist while creating an impression
of effortlessness. Beneath its virtuosity lies an elegant and expressive character, revealing Liszt’s
remarkable ability to unite technical brilliance with poetic expression.
Un sospiro, S. 144, No. 3
Un sospiro, meaning “A Sigh,” is the third of Liszt’s Three Concert Études. A lyrical melody
unfolds over sweeping arpeggios, frequently passing between the pianist’s hands and creating an
almost vocal quality. The combination of a soaring melodic line and continuous movement gives
the work both its technical brilliance and its distinctive sense of longing.
Intermission
Sheep May Safely Graze (arranged by Egon Petri)
Johann Sebastian Bach
Originally composed as part of Bach’s secular Hunting Cantata, BWV 208, Sheep May Safely
Graze has become one of his most beloved melodies. Its gently flowing lines convey an atmosphere
of peace and pastoral serenity. Egon Petri’s transcription brings Bach’s vocal and instrumental
writing to the piano while preserving the calm and expressive character of the original.
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (arranged by Myra Hess)
Johann Sebastian Bach
This familiar melody comes from Bach’s Cantata No. 147, Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben.
Pianist Myra Hess’s celebrated transcription became closely associated with the lunchtime concerts
she organized at London’s National Gallery during World War II. Its serene chorale melody,
surrounded by a continuously flowing accompaniment, has made the work an enduring expression
of reflection and consolation.
Impromptu in G-flat Major, Op. 90, No. 3
Franz Schubert
Schubert’s Impromptu in G-flat Major exemplifies his extraordinary gift for song-like writing at the
piano. A long, lyrical melody unfolds over a gently flowing accompaniment, recalling the
expressive character of his Lieder. The music gradually moves through moments of greater intensity
before returning to the serenity and intimacy of its opening.
Impromptu No. 2 in F-sharp Major, Op. 36
Frédéric Chopin
Chopin’s Second Impromptu moves through a series of contrasting characters, from the graceful
lyricism of its opening to a more rhythmically animated central section. Despite its seemingly
spontaneous character, the work is carefully shaped, balancing intimacy, elegance, and moments of
virtuosity. Its shifting moods reveal Chopin’s distinctive ability to combine freedom of expression
with refined musical structure.
Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op. 47
Frédéric Chopin
Chopin’s Third Ballade is among the most lyrical and radiant of his large-scale piano works. Like
his other ballades, it unfolds with a strong sense of musical narrative, beginning with a gentle, song-
like theme that develops through increasingly varied and dramatic transformations. Contrasting
themes, dance-like rhythms, and moments of growing intensity lead to a brilliant and exhilarating
conclusion.
A Note from Windsor UCC
Windsor UCC welcomes you to this community piano concert as we continue to
strengthen our connection with our community through music and the arts.
We are pleased to present Hyeyeon Seok, an accomplished young pianist and Doctor of
Musical Arts student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This concert is part of our
effort to support and showcase talented artists at UW–Madison.
In times when life can feel stressful and uncertain, we invite you to set those concerns
aside for a little while and enjoy an evening of beautiful music. We hope tonight provides a
peaceful moment to reflect, connect with others, and experience something good and
beautiful.
Thank you for joining us and supporting Windsor UCC Community Events.
