Yunji Shim - 2016 Award Winner 

Soprano Yunji Shim is a second year Doctoral student in Voice Performance and Literature at University of Illinois. She was granted a Master’s degree of Music in Voice Performance and Literature at Eastman School of Music in 2013. Also, she completed her bachelor’s degree of Music at Seoul National University in South Korea, 2011.

In 2014, She performed Opera Don Giovanni by W.A.Mozart as a ‘Donna Anna’ in Charlotte, NC at CPCC. Also, she performed Opera Rodrigo by G. F. Händel as ‘Florinda’ in 2015 at Smith Hall in University of Illinois. She performed a solo recital in 2010 as a Gumho young artist sponsored by Gumho Asiana Cultural Foundation in Korea. In 2011, as a soloist, she performed Scenes from Faust by Schumann in Kodak hall at Eastman School of Music. Recently, she has won the second prize at Southern Illinois Young Artist Organization vocal competition. She has studied with Cynthia Haymon-Coleman, Dr. Robert McIver, Dr. Hyunju Yun and Soonhee Lee.