Jasmine Choi
Biography
"The goddess of flute"- Korea Times
“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 best flutists in the history of music"- Sinfini Magazine, UK
Praised as “The goddess of flute” by the Korea Times, Jasmine Choi is known for her virtuosic performances, diverse repertoire, innovative projects and her prominent social media presence. Performing over ninety concerts globally each year, she is particularly dedicated to cultivating young audience, while delving into the limitless potential of the instrument.
Prior to take off for her full-time solo career, Jasmine Choi has served principal flute of the Vienna Symphony under Fabio Luisi, and associate principal flute of the Cincinnati Symphony under Paavo Järvi, upon graduating from Curtis Institute of Music and Juilliard School. Having spent nearly equal years on three different continents has crafted her playing into a distinctive musical style, complemented by an unparalleled voice.
The 2024-2025 season highlights include appearing as soloist with Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra, Würzburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Haifa Symphony Orchestra, Sejong Soloists, Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo, Korean National Symphony Orchestra, Macao Orchestra, and tours with pianist Kit Armstrong, Hugh Sung, and harpist Johanna Schellenberger.
Born into a third-generation classical music family in South Korea, Jasmine Choi was naturally exposed to classical music from an early age playing the piano and the violin. At the age of nine, she began with the flute, which rapidly became her lifelong passion and dream.
She has performed as a soloist with the Vienna Symphony, Salzburg Mozarteum, Philadelphia Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, St.Petersburg Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, Salzburg Mozart Players, Berlin Symphony, New York Classical Players, Seoul Philharmonic, Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa, as well as at recitals in Paris, Vienna, London, Munich, Geneve, New York, Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong.
Her infinite curiosity has also led her to make her own arrangements of major works, including the Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky violin concertos, as well as performing new works by living composers. She has published numerous arrangements of hers through Theodore Presser Company, and has premiered more than 10 flute concertos written for her.
Ms. Choi served the Artist-In-Residence of the New York Classical Players for three consecutive seasons(2018-2021), and served the Artist-In-Residence at Sejong Arts Center in Seoul for its 40th anniversary season.
She has recorded several solo CDs under the Sony Classical label, including Mozart Flute Concertos, Fantasy (Virtuoso Flute Works), Claude Bolling Jazz Suite, Mozart Flute Quartets, Works of Brahms, Schumann, Reinecke. Other recordings include Telemann Fantasies, Love in Paris (from a live recital), Trio Joy (free improvisation), and three single albums including her arrangement of Paganini's Caprice No.24, Clarke's Great Train Race and Reichert's Encore Solo.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Choi has started sharing educational videos on YouTube for the advanced flutists, as well as collaborating with young pianists and introducing them in order to kickstart their careers, and interviewing leading classical musicians via live streamings and recorded videos.
In May 2021, Ms. Choi has launched the SmartCase, an innovative flute case that is light, durable, secure and fits to normal bags, making every flutist's wish come true. In August 2021, she has published the flute method books for beginners (Seoul Music Publishing) which made it to the bestseller chart in no time. She also writes articles for Flute Talk Magazine in the US and the Auditorium Magazine in Korea.
Between concerts, Ms. Choi enjoys teaching and guiding young students in master classes. She has previously taught master classes at Juilliard, the Curtis Institute of Music, Indiana University, Colburn School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Florida University, Harvard University, Universität für Musik in Vienna, among others. She has filmed Henle Verlag's Masterclasses series for flute in Germany and also serves the flute faculty of the Sarasota Music Festival in the US.
Growing up as a third generation of a classical music family in Korea, she started learning piano and violin from the very early age. A year after picking up the flute as a nine-year-old, she performed the Haydn Concerto in D Major with a local orchestra. She became the last pupil of the legendary Julius Baker when she was accepted at Curtis Institute of Music at sixteen years old. Ms. Choi continued her studies at Juilliard School with Jeffrey Khaner, and later had private studies with Thomas Robertello and Robert Stallman.
Ms. Choi’s performance was featured during the 2018 Winter Olympics’ celebrations in PyeongChang, Korea, and she is the Ambassador of Daejeon Culture and Arts Foundation in her hometown Daejeon, Korea.
Ms. Choi speaks English, German and Korean, and resides in Austria between concert tours. She has a strong presence on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, and enjoys communicating regularly with her fans.
(Updated in September 2024)