The Mary Pappert School of Music takes great pleasure in welcoming Dr. Kevin Lee Sun to Duquesne’s faculty in the fall. Dr. Sun will serve as Assistant Professor of Piano and brings with him a wealth of expertise in piano performance, literature, and pedagogy, as well as significant experience with neurodiversity and inclusive learning environments.
Kevin Lee Sun has performed a diverse repertoire around the world, including at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Arnold Schoenberg Center in Vienna, and the Banff Centre in Canada. He won the Silver Medal at the 2011 Virginia Waring International Piano Competition, and he was named Finalist of the 2021 Berlin Prize for Young Artists in Germany. A recent performance of Schumann’s Songs of the Early Morning, op. 133, recorded at the Elbphilharmonie, can be found below.
Dr. Sun earned his DMA at the Eastman School of Music, where he was Instructor of Primary and Secondary Piano. His piano students have achieved numerous successes, including prizes at international competitions held in Pennsylvania, Texas, and Arizona, as well as invitations to summer festivals in Spain, Italy, and Austria. Dr. Sun also holds degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Stanford University.
In addition to being a performer, Dr. Sun has also authored and co-authored several journal articles on neurodiversity and mentorship, contributed to psychiatry and music theory textbooks, and presented the music of living composer Hyo-shin Na at many national conferences, most recently at the Composition in Asia Symposium in Tampa, Florida.
“Dr. Sun made a big impression on our students, faculty and staff during his May visit to campus,” offered Dean David Allen Wehr. “His high artistic standards, broad-based education and creative thinking promise to be an excellent complement to our programs. I am particularly pleased to be welcoming a fellow pianist to our team.”
Dr. Sun will hit the ground running with a full schedule of teaching and performances this fall. Notably, he will make his debut appearance on the annual Music on the Bluff series on September 17, and just five days later, he will perform a solo recital, The People United Will Never Be Defeated.
“The Mary Pappert School of Music’s service-oriented culture struck a chord with me. It was clear that students learn to make music that is integral to communities and larger society,” said Dr. Sun. “I am thrilled to teach these students, and I can’t wait to welcome these thoughtful musicians to my piano studio. I also am eager to collaborate with my faculty colleagues on performance and research projects. My deepest gratitude to Dean Wehr, Carrie McCormack, Steve Benham, and all others at the School of Music who worked to make this fantastic opportunity possible.”
If you are a prospective student and are interested in studying with Dr. Sun, please reach%20out%20to%20him or request a free trial lesson before your audition.
News Information
Kevin Lee Sun Performs
Schumann: Songs of the Early Morning, No. 1