The Guitar Studio International Festival & Competition - Bokyung Byun, Guitar - Run - Lee Byungwoo

This performance was presented at the 2026 Guitar Studio International Festival and Competition at Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU on Friday, February 16th. We gratefully acknowledge our main sponsors: Altamira Guitars, Texas Christian University (TCU), and Savarez Strings. The piece is performed on an Altamira Hansen N3 Artist Mode Performer Bio: Praised as a leading guitarist of her generation, Bokyung Byun is the recipient of the 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant and the first female winner of the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition. Other top honors include first prizes at the Guitar Foundation of America and Montreal International Guitar Competitions. She has performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the Buffalo Philharmonic and Utah Symphony, and given acclaimed recitals across North America. Critics praise her for her “gorgeous tone, immaculate technique, and sophisticated musicianship.” Passionate about both classical and contemporary repertoire, Byun co-founded Sounding Board, a new music initiative that promotes collaboration between guitarists and composers. Her recordings have been lauded for their artistry, and her Naxos Laureate Series album was named a Critics’ Choice by American Record Guide. Born in Seoul, Korea, Byun studied at The Juilliard School and USC, and now serves on faculty at the University of North Texas. She is an Augustine Strings artist and plays a guitar by Dieter Mueller. About the Music: “Run” is a piece by renowned Korean film composer Lee Byeong-woo. Known for his evocative soundtracks, Lee studied classical guitar at Peabody and later defined the acoustic guitar sound in Korean film music. “Run” expresses pure, uncontainable excitement—like the feeling of needing to move because you just can’t sit still. Lee’s music blends deep emotional storytelling with the guitar’s versatility. #guitar #classicalguitar #classicalmusic #tcu