Pianist Young-Ah Tak's artistry shines in her latest album on the Steinway & Sons label, featuring sensitive performances of two Schubert sonatas.

“A polished and serious-minded pianist.” 
 — Gramophone

“I have been drawn towards the music of Franz Schubert for as long as I can remember. My first experience studying a Schubert sonata was at age 12, and from then on it has been an important part of my repertoire. Playing Schubert’s music gives me inspiration, much joy, and meaning. I feel truly privileged when performing pieces by Schubert. His melodies and musical ideas unfolding so naturally and perfectly within a well-structured classical sonata form is truly inspirational. I believe Schubert's sonatas resonate with the human spirit - their beauty, joy, sadness, drama, and yearning. There is such an emotional depth reflected in this music. Mastering these two different but equally profound sonatas has been a magnificent journey for me.”

 — Young-Ah Tak

“Tak plays with supreme confidence but never virtuosic arrogance”

CD HotList

 

“Tak's rhythmic incisiveness and technical fluency are marvels to behold, and her playing evinces both boldness and clarity of texturing...”  

    Fanfare

 

“In Tak’s capable hands, new and effervescent subtleties of this music are introduced, exposed and played with to the satisfaction of both the performer and audience (and one would hope composer too).”

The Whole Note 

 

“Tak’s technical prowess is undoubted, as is the thoughtfulness of her playing.”  

    Infodad.com
 

Album Credits

Schubert: Sonatas D 784 & D 894 / Young-Ah Tak • STNS 30235

Release Date: 11/01/2024
Recorded October 5 & 23, 2023 at Steinway Hall, New York City.
Producer: Jon Feidner
Engineers: Joshua Frey, Lauren Sclafani, Melody Nieun Hwang
Mixing and Mastering: Daniel Shores
Editor: Kazumi Umeda

Executive Producers: Eric Feidner, Jon Feidner
Art Direction: Jackie Fugere
Design: Cover to Cover Design, Anilda Carrasquillo
Photos of Young-Ah Tak: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco
Project Coordinator: Renée Oakford
Piano Technician: John Veitch
Piano: Steinway Model D #607799 (New York) 

About the Artist

Praised for her “thrilling blend of fury and finesse” (San Antonio Express-News) and her “winning combination of passion, imagination, and integrity” (New York Concert Review), pianist Young-Ah Tak enjoys a remarkable career that has taken her throughout the United States, Canada, Austria, Germany, Italy, Korea, and Japan.

Ms. Tak made her New York City debut at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts’ Alice Tully Hall with the Juilliard Orchestra. She has since appeared with numerous orchestras including the Roanoke, Lansing, North Arkansas, Orchestra of Northern New York, Venice, Imperial, Filharmonia Pomorska (Poland), and Oltenia Philharmonic (Romania). In her native South Korea, she has appeared with the Korean Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Seongnam, Busan, KNN, and Ulsan Philharmonic Orchestras. Other notable performances by Ms. Tak have taken place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Jordan Hall in Boston, Columbia University, and Ravinia Festival. She has also appeared in Korea at major concert halls such as Seoul Arts Center, and at international music festivals in Busan, Seoul, and Tongyeong. Her performances have been broadcast on WQXR (NYC), WRTI (Philadelphia), WMFT and LOOP (Chicago), WBJC (Baltimore), WCLV (Cleveland), CKWR (Ontario), Korea’s KBS, and Arte TV.

Active as a chamber musician, Young-Ah Tak is a member of the Marinus Ensemble, and has collaborated with the late violinist Robert Mann, cellist Paul Katz, Bonnie Hampton, and the Ma’alot Quintet. Young-Ah Tak has been awarded top prizes in numerous international competitions including the San Antonio International Piano Competition, the Hilton Head International Piano Competition, Korea’s ISANGYUN Competition, Germany’s Ettlingen International Piano Competition, and Italy’s Valsesia Musica International Competition.

Ms. Tak received her training from The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, and the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University where she earned her doctorate degree under the tutelage of the legendary pianist Leon Fleisher. She has also studied with Young Ho Kim, Martin Canin, Yong Hi Moon, Wha Kyung Byun, and Russell Sherman.

Ms. Tak currently serves as an Associate Professor of Piano at the Crane School of Music of the State University of New York - Potsdam. She has presented masterclasses at prestigious universities and music festivals around the country and in South Korea, and at the Steinway Festival in Seoul. Young-Ah Tak’s debut recording of Judith Zaimont’s Wizards – Three Magic Masters was released by Albany Records to critical acclaim. Her recordings are also available from MSR Classics and on Steinway Spirio pianos. Ms. Tak’s CD recording of works by Beethoven was released on the Steinway & Sons label in 2019 as part of the Steinway & Sons essential series of Steinway Classics. Ms. Tak is a Steinway Artist.

About Steinway & Sons label

The STEINWAY & SONS music label produces exceptional albums of solo piano music across all genres. The label — a division of STEINWAY & SONS, maker of the world’s finest pianos — is a perfect vessel for producing the finest quality recordings by some of the most talented pianists in the world.