Bio
A native of South Korea, pianist, and educator Mideum Chung began her musical journey at the age of five. She made her solo debut with the Daejeon Symphony Youth Orchestra, performing Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, KV 488, at the age of twelve. During her time in Korea, Chung won awards in numerous competitions, including the second prize at the Korea Music Association competition. She graduated from Daejeon Art High School and from Dongduk Women’s University in Seoul, where she studied under Dr. Mi Jung Park and Dr. Noel McRobbie. While at Dongduk, Mideum performed countless recitals and was highly in demand as a collaborative pianist, especially for conducting and vocal classes. In addition, she tutored music theory classes and received scholarships such as Dean’s List and tutoring scholarships.
Dr. Chung obtained a Summa Cum Laude in Master of Music from the University of South Florida under Dr. Svetozar Ivanov as a Graduate Assistant and Group Piano instructor. She accompanied many different instrument studios, voice studios, the USF Symphony Orchestra, and the USF Honors Choir. Additionally, she won the fourth prize at the USF Piano Competition in 2019 and received an honorable mention at the Osaka International Competition Regional Round in Atlanta, United States both in 2018 and 2019 which gives the opportunity to participate in the final competition in Japan. Dr. Chung performed Faure‘s Piano trio in D Minor with USF colleagues, and the group received a masterclass from the Fischer Duo. Furthermore, she performed the Brahms’s Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor with a cellist in that masterclass. She has participated in several renowned summer music festivals, including the J&R Seorak Music Festival, the Ensemble TIMP Festival in South Korea, the Malmaison Conservatory Festival in France, and the Brancaleoni International Music Festival in Italy.
She completed her Doctor of Music degree (Summa Cum Laude) at Florida State University in May 2023, under the mentorship of Dr. Stijn De Cock. Her dissertation, titled "A Study of Two Piano Works by Claude Debussy and Korean Folk Song Piano Arrangements by Female Korean Composers," was based on her two lecture recitals exploring these distinct musical traditions. During her time at FSU, she was awarded a tuition waiver scholarship, the Charles & Persis Rockwood Scholarship, and the James and Prudie Streem Scholarship. Additionally, She was a semi-finalist in the Walled City Music International Piano Competition in 2020. She also actively participated in MTNA and the Orlando Music Club. As a piano instructor at Allegro Music Orlando and the owner of a private piano studio with twenty-five students, her students achieved remarkable success, including winning prizes in state and international piano competitions. One of her students won first prize in the Elite International Music Competition, earning the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall.
Dr. Chung has also contributed as a church pianist at Vision Church, and Eldream Church and performed frequently at the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. Notably, she performed a multi-movement work for choir and orchestra, “Illuminare” by Elaine Hagenberg, with the FPCO. Additionally, she collaborated with the Joshua Foundation in 2021 and 2022, performing alongside metropolitan opera singer Joo Won Kang and acclaimed violinist Dr. Brian Bak.
After completing her doctorate, Dr. Chung moved to Rowlett, TX, and since Spring 2024, she has been an adjunct faculty member at Tarrant County College. She is very passionate about teaching the younger generation, and is an active member of MTNA, PMTA, and the Orlando Music Club. Currently, she serves as a church pianist at the First Presbyterian Church of Forney, and operates her piano studio in Rowlett. She has around 30 students in the Dallas and Rowlett areas, including her online students from Orlando.
