Double Bassist Im Chaemun, School of Music, Joins the London Symphony Orchestra

Double bassist Im Chaemun (28 years old), an alumnus of the Department of Instrumental Music at the School of Music, takes a permanent position in the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) beginning in March 2024. He is the first Asian double bassist member of LSO. Established in 1904, the LSO is a representative orchestra of Britain. Sir Antonio Pappano serves as the orchestra director for the 2023-2024 season.

Im Chaemun started playing double bass at the age of 15. He completed his studies at the Ulsan High School of Arts and the Korea National University of Arts and obtained a Master’s degree from the Berlin University of the Arts. He continued his studies at the Cologne University of Music afterward. Im served as an academy member of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra meanwhile he played with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra as a guest member. In 2022, winning the second prize at the Anton Rubinstein Competition, the very first time for a Korean artist, Im demonstrated his prowess on a global stage. He studied with Chang Seungho (Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra) at the School of Music in K-Arts, Pablo Santa Cruz, and Veit-Peter Schüssler in Germany.

Since joining the LSO in February 2023, Im went through a 10-month training period before being designated as a permanent member. Whereas it requires an agreement of over 80 percent of current members in a relevant instrumental section to become the permanent member, Im was accepted to the position by a unanimous vote of 6 double bassists.