Sophia Ryoo is a recent graduate of the University of South Carolina where she earned a Master of Music degree in piano performance under the direction of Dr. Charles Fugo. In 2014, she performed with the Alicante Philharmonic at Music Fest Perugia in Perugia, Italy. While pursuing her undergraduate degree at Georgia Regents University, she received various awards from numerous Georgia-based competitions, including Outstanding Performance, which allowed her to perform at the Savannah International Trade Center on several occasions. In 2012, she placed as an Alternate in the Georgia Music Teachers National Association's collegiate auditions. Miss Ryoo also received the Award of Excellence and Honorable Mention from both the Georgia Music Educators Association and the Georgia Music Teachers Association. Other accomplishments include the Powers-Baldwin Music Award and the Concerto Competition awards in 2009 and 2012 at Georgia Regents University. In 2007, she was recognized as a district percussionist representing Lakeside High School in Georgia.
While pursuing her bachelor's degree at Georgia Regents University, Miss Ryoo performed extensively as a collaborative pianist with the Augusta State University Opera Ensemble, Women’s Choir, and University Chorale. While pursuing her master’s degree at USC, Miss Ryoo received a Graduate Assistantship and worked as a collaborative pianist with the opera workshop classes and accompanied various instrumentalists/vocalists for recitals and masterclasses.
In regards to academic excellence, Miss Ryoo is a member of the honorary music fraternity society Pi Kappa Lambda. She previously studied with Martin David Jones and Jinha Park, and has also worked with Clara Park, Alexander Schimpf, Nadia Shpachenko-Gottesman, Ilana Vered, Alex Sokolov, Steven Spooner, Philip Bush, Marina Lomazov, and Joseph Rackers, Barry Snyder, Alexander Shtarkman.
Miss Ryoo is a member of the MTNA chapter in Augusta, GA. In 2010, one of her students was recognized at GMTA and performed at the winner's convention in Savannah. The remainder of her students also participate in the Augusta music festival annually and consistently receive Superior and Excellent ratings. In June 2015, Miss Ryoo coached piano trios at the Chamber Music Institute at Georgia Regents University.
