top of page

Sophie Min is a Brisbane-based pianist and composer who blends jazz, experimental, and classical influences to create music that is both innovative and emotionally resonant. Her work is characterised by a deep commitment to exploring the human condition through sophisticated compositions and improvisations. As a visionary artist, Sophie strives to inspire and lead collaborative projects that push the boundaries of jazz and improvised music.

Sophie grew up in South Korea and began learning classical piano at the age of 3. She actively participated in choir ensembles, contemporary gospel music, and school rock bands, where she conducted and created charts from a young age. After majoring in Applied Music at Seoul Institute of The Arts, she moved to Australia in 2010, where she graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium, studying under renowned musicians like Zac Hurren, Steve Newcomb, John Hoffman, and Yitzhak Yedid.


Her first official album, Thanks for the Hands, featuring guitarist James Sherlock, was praised for its delicate beauty and lyrical interaction, with a successful launch at Jazz Music Institute and Jazzlab. In 2018, she presented a solo performance at the Brisbane International Jazz Festival, followed by the release of Solo Vol.1, an all-improvised piano album. Her collaborative project Open with bassist Helen Svoboda and drummer Timothy Green further showcased her innovative approach to improvisation.
In 2019, she released Fine Gnaw with her duo project SHAMIN, which was highlighted at several major festivals, including the 2022 Wangaratta Jazz Festival. In 2020, Sophie released the 11-piece orchestra album Bellwether, a significant work blending big band, contemporary jazz, minimalism, and classical chamber music. This was followed by Your Wings, a 7-piece ensemble album recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown, and Intertwined Trees, a duo album with German saxophonist Heinrich von Klein.


Sophie has been recognised with numerous awards and nominations, including an APRA-AMCOS Emerging Composer Mentorship in 2020, which led to her commissioned work Pomegranate Seeds, performed by Pharos at the 2021 Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival. She has also been a finalist for the 2021 Australian Jazz Bell Awards and the 2022 Freedman Fellowship. 

 

 


Her International experience includes being a member of the JM Jazz World Orchestra in 2015 and participating in the Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music in 2018, studying with Vijay Iyer and Tyshawn Sorey.
Sophie continues to push the boundaries of jazz with her innovative compositions and improvisations, committed to creating music that deeply resonates with audiences worldwide.

 

(A longer version of my biography is available for download as a DOCX file.)
 

Biography

JZ180811_DSC3759.jpg

Performance at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music, Canada in 2018

Photo by Jessica Wittman

"Sophie Min may seem unassuming but when she writes music you witness a lion roar  and you hear and feel a very evolved spirit expressing deep knowledge, passion and the mystery of our human condition" - Barney McAll

"Sophie Min is the truth" - Vijay Iyer

"Your Wings" - Sophie Min Orchestra

Independent Release (2022)
Sophie Min (p/composition), Zac Sakrewski (b), Benjamin Shannon (d), Nozomi Omote (vib/xyl), Flora Wong (vln), Tristan Rogers (tpt), Martin Kay (fl/sax/cl), Hannah Macklin (vox)

 

"Bellwether" - Sophie Min Orchestra

Real Production (2020)

Sophie Min (p/composition), Zac Sakrewski (b), Lachlan Hawkins (d), Kayleigh Pincott (v),

Tristan Rogers (trumpet), Josh Kehoe (tenor sax/soprano sax/flute/clarinet), Joel Aspinal (tenor sax), Harry Ottley (alto sax/flute/clarinet), Flora Wong (violin1), Julianna Kim (violin2),

Kieran Welch (viola), Briony Lutterell (Cello)

"Solo Vol.1

Independant Release (2020)

Sophie Min (p/composition)

"Open" - The Counters: Sophie Min Trio

Supersonic (2019)

Sophie Min (p/composition), Helen Svoboda (b), Tim Green (d)

"Thanks for the Hands" - Min/Sherlock

Pinnacles Music (2019)

Sophie Min (p/composition), James Sherlock (guitar)

"Fine Gnaw" - SHAMIN

Independent Release (2019)

Sophie Min (p/composition), Benjamin Shannon (d/composition)

"Min/Svoboda/Hawkins" - Min/Svoboda/Hawkins Trio

Independent Release (2018)

Sophie Min (p/composition), Helen Svoboda (b/composition), Lachlan Hawkins (dr)

"Hectic Moon" - Sprout

Supersonic Production (2018)

Helen Svoboda (b/composition), Sophie Min (p/composition), Simon Svoboda (cello)

"From All Sides" - Nimble 

Independent Release (2018)

Sophie Min (p/composition), David Galea (b/composition), Lachlan Hawkins (dr/handpan),

Elly Hoyt (v), Kristin Berardi (v), Tsoof Baras (percussion)

"Move to the Bleat" - Martin Kay's Forage

Supersonic Production (2018)

Martin Kay (as/cl/composition), Andrew Saragossi (ts/acl), Brodie Mcallister (tb),

Sophie Min (p/keys), Helen Svoboda (b), Zac Sakrewski (b/effects), Benjamin Shannon (d)

"Solace" - Kayleigh Pincott Quintet

Independent Release (2017)

Kayleigh Pincott (v/composition), Sophie Min (p), Zac Sakrewski (b), Lachlan Hawkins (d),

Tristan Rogers (Tpt), Kieran T. Stevenson (v)

Discography

Awards/
accolade

2024            Artist In Residence on ABC Jazz

2024            Master of Music Research, a thesis entitled 'Narrative-Driven Practice: The Process of Composing and                                    Arranging Music through Piano Improvisations

2023            APRA Professional Development Award for Jazz and Improvised Music

2023            Art Music Award, finalist for Improvised Music / SHAMIN

2022            Nominated for the 2022 Freedman Awards among other 15 Artists in Australia

2021            Australian Jazz Bell Awards, finalist of Best Young Jazz Musicians

2020            APRA AMCOS & SIMA Emerging Composers Mentorship and commission work for SIWJF

2020            Scholarship Recipient of National Assistance Program for the Arts, Sydney Myer Fund & The Myer Foundation

2020            Finalist of the 8th Queensland Music Awards in Jazz 

2019            Finalist of the 7th Queensland Music Awards in Jazz

2018            1st Place, International Composers Festival, Compfest (VIC)

2018            Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music Scholarship Fund

2017            7 Virtual Jazz Club: Global Contest for Jazz Musician - Semifinalist 

2016            Academic Excellence Award in Masters of Music Studies, Griffith University

2015            QCGU Owen Fletcher Postgraduate Award in Composition, Griffith University

2015            Centrum Jazz Port Townsend Scholarship (Washington, USA)

@Sophie Min Music All Rights Reserved 2024

bottom of page