Gloria So One Kwon
(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- The prestigious Philadelphia International Music Festival (PIMF) awarded over $50,000 in scholarships and performance opportunities this past year to young musicians who took top spots in PIMF's Concerto Competitions, online and at its summer festivals.
Gloria So One Kwon, 15, of Somerset County, NJ won First Place in the Ages 12-15 Division in PIMF's latest Concerto Competition and is awarded a scholarship valued at $1500 to PIMF's intensive classical music training program featuring members of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Gloria is also invited to take part in the Winners Circle Concert with members of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Gloria's performance of the first movement of Camille Saint-Saëns' expressive Violin Concerto No. 3, Op. 61 dazzled the judges.
"This piece has been one of my dream works since I began learning the violin," Gloria explained. "I fell in love with the opening, especially the powerful G-string sound followed by a lyrical response. I admire the variety of characters and colors the music allows within a single movement, and it is deeply rewarding to shape each phrase. I hope the audience hears a clear sense of character and color as the music unfolds through each new passage."
A gifted musician, Gloria discovered the violin 7 years ago and is currently a member of the Juilliard Pre-College Symphony. She studies with Ann Setzer and Khullip Jeung.
"Music is more than a hobby for me—it is a core part of who I am," Gloria said. "It allows me to reach others' hearts more easily than words. I aspire to be a musician who looks beyond technical perfection and brings the historical and emotional context of each piece into the present moment. I hope to share it in a way that gives listeners a sense of profound fulfillment—like the lingering impression of a great film, a moving painting, or a memorable encounter."
The Philadelphia International Music Festival (PIMF) is a resident summer music program directed by Kimberly Fisher, Principal Second Violin of The Philadelphia Orchestra, offering student musicians from around the world the unique opportunity of spending up to four weeks immersed in music education and performance training with members of the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra.
PIMF offers summer camp programs on Philadelphia's prestigious Main Line. Enrollment is underway for in-person one-week and two-week sessions at Valley Forge Military Academy and College (just outside Philadelphia, PA) June 20 – July 3, 2026 and July 12 – July 18 -31, 2026; and for PIMF Vanoli Cremona in Italy August 4-14, 2026.
The Philadelphia International Music Festival is a program of Sandy Marcucci International Camps, Inc.
