Hyena Cho

Hyena Cho is a South Korean pianist who actively performs on European stages and has achieved notable successes in competitions both in Europe and in her native country, South Korea.

She graduated with honors from the University of Music and Arts Vienna (MUK) under the guidance of Thomas Kreuzberger. She subsequently earned her Master’s degree at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (MDW) under Christoph Traxler and is currently pursuing postgraduate studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (KUG) under Milana Chernyavska.

Her concert activity has taken her to prestigious venues such as the Bösendorfer Salon, the Ehrbar Saal, and the ORF RadioKulturhaus in Austria, as well as theaters and concert halls in South Korea, Oxford, Liechtenstein, Italy, France, Romania, and the Czech Republic. She has been invited to perform at the Oxford Piano Festival and was awarded a full scholarship to the Academy of Music in Liechtenstein, a testament to her extraordinary talent. In 2024, she performed as a soloist with the Junge Künste Orchester at the mdw Vienna.

She furthered her education by participating in masterclasses with internationally renowned pianists such as Aquiles Delle Vigne, Ingolf Wunder, Ian Fountain, Till Fellner, Elisabeth Leonskaja, and Lilija Zilberstein. She also attended the Eppan Piano Academy, studying with Akiko Ebi and Arie Vardi.

A winner of numerous competitions, she won First Prize at the Leopold Bellan Competition in Paris and the Dichler Competition in Vienna. She has also won awards at the Roma International Piano Competition, the Mimas Music Festival International Piano Competition, the Fidelio Competition—where her award-winning performance was broadcast by ORF, Austria’s national radio and television network—and the Città di San Donà di Piave International Piano Competition. In Korea, she has distinguished herself in several national competitions, thus consolidating her presence both nationally and internationally.

In recent seasons, Hyena Cho has received critical acclaim for her excellent performance at the 2024 Leeds International Piano Competition, was awarded a Special Prize at the Târgu Mureș International Piano Competition, and was notable for an impressive performance in the preliminary round of the 19th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw ( 2025 ).

Through her art, Hyena Cho continues to build an international career, connecting her Korean roots with a vibrant presence on the European music scene.