Fono Forum
"Kwon’s stated aim was to present “profound beauty, humanity and possibilities” in the USA. Kwon masterfully meets all these requirements through her rich pianistic skills – and, conversely, many of the composers involved have audibly ‘written for her fingers’."
Cultural Attache
"Kwon plays every piece as if she’s been playing them for years. She gives life to the love, wonder, concern, fear and gratitude that this vast country’s citizenry, with all its differing views, possesses."
MusicWeb International
"[Min Kwon] shows what a tremendous artist she is in that she approaches all with such a tremendous sense of dedication and unerring musicality. From ragtime to virtuoso cascades of notes, she proves herself more than a match for every demand."
MusicWeb International
"This is an invaluable collection of contemporary piano works."
International Piano
"Confidently played, stylishly presented and thoughtfully annotated, this is a significant release."
BBC Radio 3
"A visionary new album."
BBC Radio 3
"An extraordinary range of responses from composers as diverse as Timo Andres, Stewart Copeland, Donnacha Dennehy and Jake Heggie…a 2026 snapshot of reactions to America 250 across no fewer than five CDs, an astonishing and simultaneously provocative and reflective project."
Seen and Heard International
"Clearly a convincing and motivating leader, Kwon reached 76 composers, all of whom rose to the challenge. It resulted in a veritable ‘journal’ of thoughts on what it is to be American today and was conveyed more effectively in music than in words."
The New Yorker
"At Green-Wood Cemetery, Death of Classical digs into what it means to celebrate the country’s two-hundred-and-fiftieth birthday. Its program spotlights compositions that reinvent the song 'America the Beautiful,' performed by the pianist Min Kwon."
The Guardian
"The iconic song has been given a diverse new set of versions thanks to pianist Min Kwon’s ambitious musical project."
Rutgers Today
"Kwon's Laureate project, entitled America/Beautiful – Reimagining our Nation, Its Democracy and Civic Engagement through the Arts, aims to build and expand her America/Beautiful project."
WFMT
"Kwon brings together a sweeping range of individual voices into a unified musical vision that invites listeners to experience the United States as a living, evolving cultural idea."
WRTI
"The result is a sonic portrait of the nation, questioning and reimagining the American experiment."
The Asian American Foundation
"the iconic song presented an opportunity to showcase the cultural diversity of America."
KOMO News
"the project was designed to foster connection, creativity, and unity during a time of national isolation."
The Violin Channel
"The resulting seventy-six solo piano works come from a broad range of musical styles and vocalities, ultimately forming a cohesive whole that reflects the diversity and strength of American society."
Seen and Heard International
"The solemn care given to the writing (and performance) of each work reflected a spectrum of protest, lament, questioning and introspection that made for a magnificent tribute to a deeper kind of patriotism."
BlogCritics
"The selections flowed together in what felt like a well-thought-out sequence, enlivened further by Kwon’s verbal introductions and, more important, her vigorous performance style."
Bedminster Times
"The 76 variations on “America the Beautiful” result in a culturally rich musical tapestry — a portrait of the nation as it stands today, in all its complexity. As a collection, the variations resist a single narrative and instead offer diverse perspectives that question and re-imagine the American experiment, bound by the credo of E pluribus unum: out of many, one."
Interlude HK
"It’s a great credit to Min Kwon’s musical sensitivity and technical and artistic assuredness that she is able to switch seamlessly between the myriad styles and moods of these short works, bringing each piece to life with colour, nuance, freshness and clarity."
International Piano
"…moving, inspiring and uplifting…Kwon’s performances are always committed, polished and expressive and her presentation imaginative, attractive, and suitably varied… again the performances are outstanding."
Washington Classical Review
"(in) John Harbison….Kwon brought out both the tune and the zippy ragtime-inspired clothing around it with utter charity… in Sebastian Currier’s “23 Variations on America,” a tasting menu of aggressive mini-variations in a dizzying array of musical styles. Kwon tamed all of the piece’s virtuosic demands, evoking Webern, Bartók, Stravinsky, and others, with fierce technical skill…"
New York Classical Review
"It was a real-life lesson of the eternal artistic truth that limits are a prerequisite for the deepest kind of creativity."
ConcertoNet
"She was born in Korea but one who was transported from the American dream to achieve a rare reality as one of the most dynamic international artists. The story behind tonight’s concert was even more unbelievable. Ms Kwon is both pianist and friend to a host of modern musicians. So, with her personal strength–as artist and citizen–she contacted no less than 76 American composers to write–without any restrictions–variations on Samuel Ward’s tune, composed in 1910, about three decades after Ms Bate’s celebrated poem...She is, of course a virtuoso. Here, though, she had the triple‑chore of playing piano tones simultaneously with a poem/picture and fifteen interpretations of these pictures. Thus, even in the simplest sections her playing had a tension, a notion that we had a painting behind the notes."
Patrick Chamberlain, VP for Artistic Administration, Aspen Music Festival
"Your recital immediately comes to mind when I think back on highlights of our summer—both for the clarity of your artistic vision in championing such an ambitious and impactful project AND for the brilliance and poetry of your playing in bringing it to life."
Craig Sheppard, Concert Pianist, Professor, Head of Piano, U of Washington, Seattle
"Min Kwon’s recital, during which she performed selections from the 75 composers she commissioned for her “America/Beautiful” project, was an unqualified success in front of on enthusiastic audience. The variety of the pieces was staggering, her playing beyond reproach. Indeed, it was one of the best concerts we’ve had during my 30 years here at the University of Washington!"
Vijay Iyer, McArthur Fellow, Composer, Pianist, Harvard Professor
"I’ve loved watching all of the streamed concerts! You are magnificent. Your performances have been stellar, without fail. Congratulations on this incredible achievement and thank you again for including me in this galvanizing project."
Joseph Kalichstein, Pianist
"A sensitive musician with the intelligence and technique to match."
Samuel Sanders, Pianist
"Min Kwon is not only a superb pianist and musician, but also an individual with a keen intellect. She possesses tremendous versatility as a solo pianist as well as a collaborator and chamber musician."
Martin Canin, Pianist
"Min Kwon is a superlative pianist with the technical equipment of top virtuoso and a fund of warmly communicative musicality."
Hans Leygraf, Pianist
"An extraordinary pianist with sovereign technique and strong, expressive and emotionally-experienced musicality."
David Frost, Grammy Award-Winning Producer
"That very rare kind of talent that unites the most exceptional technical ability with profound musical sensitivity."
Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
"Superb pianist from all points of view."
New York Concert Review
"Congratulations are due to all the performers and especially Ms. Kwon, whose energy and dedication has made the difference in the musical lives of so many through CME."
New York Concert Review
"In today’s competitive musical world, the concert was remarkable for its freedom from egotism and rivalry; in a true spirit of homage to the composer, the performers never called attention to themselves or to their technical and musical gifts, but focused entirely on the music. This was a heartwarming and satisfying evening of music."
New York Concert Review
"One particularly gratifying aspect of this marathon was the wonderful sense of camaraderie. Bravo to everyone connected with it!"
New York Concert Review
"Ms. Kwon, who had supervised and greeted earlier that evening, proved to be the tireless center of a vibrant performance."
New York Concert Review
"Min Kwon, director of the piano department and teacher for the majority of the evening’s performers, offered gracious acknowledgements at the conclusion of the concert. A notable pianist in her own right, she proved to be a skillful and enthusiastic organizer as well."
New York Concert Review
"It was therefore an exhilarating surprise to discover that a recital of both books of Debussy Preludes (24 in all) turned out to be one of my favorite concert experiences in memory, thanks to Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of the Arts and the inspired direction of Ms. Min Kwon. Their all-Debussy concert at Weill Hall was – dare we use this word? – perfection. All in all, it was an extraordinary musical project, unique, in fact."
New York Concert Review
"The hardest working pianist of the evening was Min Kwon, the Chair of Keyboard studies at Rutgers. Her liquid tone and seamless phrasing made every piece from the arrangements to Schubert’s TroutQuintet a joy to hear. She was a poised, sometimes humorous, and always gracious colleague… How very lucky are the students of such a fine music department to have these artists to inspire them."
New York Concert Review
"Rutgers' Piano Department is on a par with the world’s most prestigious conservatories."
New York Concert Review
"All under the watchful, charmingly humorous eye of their mistress of ceremonies, Min Kwon… There’s something really good going on in the piano department of the Mason Gross School of the Arts at nearby Rutgers University."
The New York Times
"The Piano Studio of the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers pulled off a neat trick last week. Its program at Weill Recital Hall, “The Unknown Diabelli Variations,” strayed far from the beaten path… a remarkable evening that revealed a wide range of pianistic and compositional gifts among the students."
Fanfare
"It is a testament to the excellence of the Kwon-Lehrbaumer duo that one hears these perhaps over-familiar works with new ears. The pianists find surprising depths in the contrasting material in the famous D Major, and hit exactly the right celebratory mood for the second. Charm runs through the third. Each of Schubert’s variations turns into an exploratory delight. The drama of the opening [of the Duo in A Minor] is as well caught as the miraculously pliant, delicate contrasting sections. The duo’s attention to detail is remarkable—try the perfectly even accompaniment just moments before the end… Min Kwon’s disc on MSR of Schubert and Liszt was enthusiastically welcomed by Charles Timbrell in Fanfare 32:3. I am yet to hear that disc (I’d like to, certainly). In the meantime, I can only echo praise of Kwon’s musicality, a musical sensitivity matched by her partner on this occasion, Robert Lehrbaumer."
Audiophile Audition
"The drama is palpable..."
Fanfare
"The Korean-born Rutgers professor and Austrian pianist/organist/conductor make a commanding duo debut in some of Schubert’s greatest four-hand pieces. Their virtues immediately impress in the Marches Militaires: a crisp élan with absolute unanimity of coordination; subtlety of dynamic and rhythmic inflection; and an attractively light, debonair touch that brings out the lyrical, playful side of these exceedingly un-militaristic specimens of the genre... There is impressive attention to detail, and plenty of time for it to speak. The disc is beautifully recorded, and all in all this stylish, refined duo is easy to recommend. I’ll be looking out for more from them."
[ * * * * ] BBC Music
"...A seductive Schubertian "Volume I"... Supple and idiomatic."
Atlanta Audio Society
"Min Kwon is much in demand these days as both recitalist and teacher. This new MSR release, the pianist’s solo debut on record, immediately shows us why. Her suppleness of finger, elegant phrasing and expert use of the rhythmic flexibility known in music as rubato, all serve to raise this Schubert/Liszt recital well above the ordinary. Other critics have praised Min’s readings for being elegant and well-proportioned. Without denying any of that, I’d like to focus on her fire and conviction… Min Kwon’s answer to them makes the finale a pure delight. At 38 minutes, this sonata may seem overlong for the material, but with a performance like this, who cares? A brilliant passagework, the expressiveness of Liszt’s sonorous chords, and the dazzling sweep of one of his most striking solo works."
BBC Music Magazine
"...Clearly a virtuoso."
American Record Guide
"Kwon views dynamics, pedaling, and color in a unique way. [In Schubert's Con M'oto] Ms. Kwon finds herself and reveals the full beauty of the music. All flows naturally, with phrasing so gentle and lovely the notes breathe with just the right motion. The concluding rondo is a model of refined delicacy…[Gretchen am Spinnrade] is performed most beautifully. For the Don she shows a willingness to play at full thrust to emphasize our hero's braggadocio. Like the Don, she can boast of a full conquest-this time of the music's temperament and technical demands."
Scranton Times
"Kwon mixed power with subtlety, delicacy of technique with raw romantic passion."
Cape Cod Times
"Exciting not only through her impressive command of the keyboard, but through her imaginative abilities in capturing various styles."
Dallas Morning News
"Intelligent and unostentatious music making."
Classical New Jersey Society.org
"Kwon’s ability to fine-tune her dynamics lay as the foundation to the success of the Sonata. Kwon understood and controlled well the tension between surface elegance and inner drive and exploration. It was the finest performance of this Sonata [Haydn] I have heard to this date. The recital finally reduced itself to a simple “Wow!”"
The Courier Post
"Winning blend of virtuosity and fervor."
Philippine Daily Inquirer
"Min Kwon gave a ravishingly beautiful and powerful concert for the hundreds of music lovers forging a special bond with the audience."
The Herald
"Very impressive."
New York Concert Review
"Playing of unruffled clarity, finesse, and elegant proportions."
Journal Standard
"Kwon played with such sensitivity that concert-goers seemed to stop breathing."
The Piano
"Min Kwon’s captivating enthusiasm on stage, coupled with superb technique, warm emotional lyricism, and explosive energy, truly made for a magnificent performance. She is a first class artist and veteran performer. I wish her kudos on the world stage."
The Times Leader
"Min Kwon is an extraordinary virtuoso. She turned in a masterful performance and the audience showed its appreciation with a standing ovation."
Muskegon Chronicle
"Astonishingly talented…deft keyboard work and mastery of dynamic range."
Anchorage News
"Masterful, she brought the house to a standing ovation for the first of several times during the evening."
ClassicalNet
"Min Kwon and Robert Lehrbaumer play as one organism. The performances to me get to the essence of Schubert as a composer – part naïve bourgeois, part visionary titan. This recording brings smiles to my face every time I listen to it."
Daily Telegraph
"To say the audience was thrilled with the performance would be an understatement of high order… a truly grand and amazing performance."