Hyung-ki Joo is a »clever, dynamic artist who […] brings a breath of fresh air to the industry« according to the American magazine ›Billboard‹. On stage, this pianist – who has already worked with a number of renowned orchestras such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, the Wiener Symphoniker, the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and many others – inspires audiences with his charismatic personality and energetic playing. He also performs as a chamber musician with renowned colleagues such as Janine Jansen and Julian Rachlin and in recitals with Asmik Grigorian or Julian Prégardien.

Hyung-ki Joo is a musical all-rounder who uses his refreshing creative energy to devise innovative concert formats suitable for the 21st century. As curator for example, he conceived the opening of the Wiener Festwochen 2023, and his compositions have been performed by renowned orchestras including the New York Philharmonic and the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich. Together with violinist Aleksey Igudesman, he forms the duo Igudesman & Joo which combines classical music and comedy with pop culture, bringing entertainment and sparkling humour to major concert halls around the world. Hyung-ki Joo also collaborates with artists outside the world of classical music such as Billy Joel, whose first album of works for solo piano was arranged by Joo. This young Briton with Korean roots is also a passionate music educator, works regularly with youth orchestras, conducts workshops and masterclasses at various institutions, holds an honorary doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music and is Artistic Director of the Menuhin Competition.

»…talent of the century«, so described the Tagesspiegel Tarmo Peltokoski. This Finnish conductor was appointed ›Principal Guest Conductor‹ by the Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen in January 2022 – the first conductor to hold this position.

In recent seasons, Peltokoski has debuted at many major festivals, including the Rheingau Music Festival and the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, as well as in the great concert halls such as the Köln Philharmonie and the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. In addition, he has given debuts with the hr-Sinfonieorchester and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. At just 22, Peltokoski conducted his first complete Ring Cycle as well as another significant Wagner work – Tristan und Isolde – at the Eurajoki Bel Canto Festival. In the same year, he was also appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonisch Orkest, Musical and Artistic Director of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Designate of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse.

Tarmo Peltokoski conducted the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the Hollywood Bowl. In 2023 Tarmo Peltokoski was awarded the OPUS Klassik for his recording with the Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen. In addition to piano and conducting, Peltokoski also studied composition and arranging and has a particular penchant for musical comedy and improvisation.