Violinists Clara-Jumi Kang and Esther Yoo Fill in for Hilary Hahn's Upcoming Concerts

Hahn has canceled her performances with the Munich Philharmonic due to a nerve injury

The three-time GRAMMY Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn has cancelled her January and February concerts with the Munich Philharmonic on account of a double-pinched nerve. 

Stepping in for Hahn are violinists Clara-Jumi Kang and VC Artist Esther Yoo. Kang will perform concerts on January 29 and 30 in Munich, while Esther will accompany the orchestra on its tour to Spain and the Canary Islands in February 2025. 

The concert program remains unchanged with Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, which will be performed by Kang and Esther alongside Farrenc’s Overture No. 2 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.

All the concerts during this period will be led by the Munich Philharmonic’s chief conductor designate, Lahav Shani. 

“We are very sorry to announce that Hilary Hahn had to cancel her engagements with us due to a nerve injury, which affects our concerts in Munich as well as the following tour to Spain and the Canary Islands,” the Munich Philharmonic posted on Facebook. “But no worries — our concerts will take place thanks to these two outstanding young violinists … we are so much looking forward to our upcoming concerts! Dear Hilary, please get well soon and dear Clara and Esther, see you next week.”

Clara’s career launched with her winning the 2010 Indianapolis International Violin Competition, the Sendai Violin Competition, and the Seoul Violin Competition. 

She has appeared solo with the Warsaw Philharmonic, Cologne Chamber Orchestra, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Kremerata Baltica, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, and more. Among her mentors included Zakhar Bron, Dorothy DeLay, Nam-Yun Kim, and Christophe Poppen. She was recently awarded the loan of the 1702 “Thunis” Stradivari violin. 

Born in the U.S., Esther made her concerto debut when she was eight years old, and later became the youngest-ever winner of the Sibelius Competition. She is also a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth Competition. 

She released her debut album on Deutsche Grammophon in 2016, and has since recorded other acclaimed albums. Esther has performed solo with ensembles including the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Philharmonia Orchestra, among others.