International pianist Gile Bae to teach master class at ASU

Last week, a classical pianist performed her internationally renowned talents at the Royal Opera House of Musical Arts in Muscat, Oman. This week, Gile Bae brought her recital to the Valley.

Bae, a 30-year-old Dutch-born Korean pianist, debuted her piano skills at the age of five in South Korea. She then went on to study at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague at the age of six and has since won many awards and accolades.

During her stay in Arizona, Bae will play two recitals, meet with Arizona Musicfest staff, and conduct a master class at Arizona State University’s School of Music.

Bae joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss her accomplishments and the work she will be doing while visiting Arizona.

“I had a very good teacher…I think that’s my fortune,” Bae said, “…I had a very good base…when I came on stage during the concert…I don’t know, it felt just like a playground, and I had a lot of fun.”

Bae, who had begun playing at the age of five, studied at a Dutch conservatory and continued studying in Italy, as she now has performed across the world.

“My intention was to be a concert pianist, but I had no idea what that would be in the future,” Bae explained, “…I love to play music, I have a musical family…my goal was never to actually become one of the most famous…artists, but I love to play, I love to practice.”

Bae emphasized how important her studies in Italy were to her teaching and piano abilities, as she learned how to better practice. This has now translated to today, as this has helped her explain her thought process better to the students.

“I give them the basics, which they can also apply to other pieces,” Bae said, “…so when they’re at home, and there’s no teacher around to tell them what to do, and how to solve a problem in a certain passage, I try to give them the basics that they can apply everywhere…I learn more by teaching than when I am at home practicing.”