JunHwa Choung

Inspired by his father who was the first principal clarinet in the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra in South Korea, JunHwa Choung took his first clarinet class at the age of 13. In 1999, he won first prize in the Busan High School of Arts competition and began his studies there in 2000.

In the course of his studies, he won first prize in the competition organized by The Association of Research Busan Musical Education and The Association of Korea Musical Education, and won first prizes in competitions organized by various universities a dozen times in a row.

In 2003 he entered the Keimyung University School of Music Graduate where he graduated with a bachelor's degree. He won the gold prize in the Daegu and Gyungbuk competitions and twice won the gold prize in the Clarinet Ensemble Competition.

In 2008, he founded the clarinet ensemble Caprice and took part in several musical events. The same year, he decided to continue his studies in France. He is received at the Conservatoire du Val-Maubuée in Dominique Vidal's class where he obtains a DEM and a first prize in chamber music by unanimous vote as well as a Perfectionnement prize.

In 2011, he is invited to play with The International Clarinet Choir in New York.

At the same time as his studies at Val Maubué, he obtains the sixth year diploma at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris in Guy Dangain's class.

In 2013, he wins the first prize at the 30th National Music Competition of Lempdes in France and the second prize at the 5th International Clarinet Competition "Julian Menendez" in Spain.

In 2014 he teaches clarinet at the University of Inje in South Korea. He then becomes professor at the University of Jeju.

Then in 2017 he was awarded the position of first clarinet solo concert master at the Seoguipo Philharmonic Wind Orchestra of South Korea.