“[Sunbeam has] great strength, power, and excellence beyond all expectation, especially from one so quiet and unassuming.” - Carolyn Merrill Shumway

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Dr. Sunbeam Choi was born in Seoul, Korea and he began his piano studies at age five. He continued his education at the prestigious schools, Seoul Arts High School and Yonsei University in Seoul where he holds the Bachelor of Music Degree as "The Honor Student" and awarded “The Jinli Scholarship”. He holds the Master of Music degree at The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University where he was awarded “The Norman J. And Sarah J. Groves Endowed Scholarship” and studied with Marian Hahn. Dr. Choi holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Texas at Austin with Teaching Assistantship under the tutelage of Martha Hilley, studying with David Renner and Gregory Allen. He also had the privilege working with other great musicians including John O’Conor, Solomon Mikowsky, Felix Michael Deichmann, Paul Pollei, Christopher Harding, Albert Mamriev, Lydia Artymiw, and Irene Peery-Fox.

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Dr. Choi won various Competitions including the Gold Prize in “The National Music Student Competition”, first prize in the American Protégé International Piano Competition, Honorable Mention in the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition, and Second Place at The Sidney M. Wright Competition in Piano Accompanying. He made his first public debut at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. He has performed numerous solo and chamber recitals in many cities and states: Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Geojea, Tokyo, Manila, Cebu, Davao, Hawaii, California, Utah, Idaho and Washington. Also, he has performed at Weill Recital Hall at the Carnegie Hall in New York, featured in “The Thursday Noon Recital Series” at Miriam A. Friedberg Concert Hall in Baltimore, featured in “Temple Square Performances” at Assembly Hall in Salt Lake City, performed with the Seattle Ensign Symphony at Benayora Hall in Seattle, and invited as a guest artist to perform live at “Highway 89”radio show at “Classical 89 station”. 

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Dr. Choi was a faculty member at Sejong Conservatory at Sejong University, Gwangwoon University, Brigham Young University, Sunhwa Arts High School, Sunhwa Arts Middle School, Gyewon Arts Middle School, and Redeemer School of Performing Arts. Also, he has been an adjudicator in several competitions and was a guest presenter at the M.T.N.A. (Music Teachers National Association) National Conference. 

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Dr. Choi is a member of M.T.N.A., The Piano Society of Korea, and Piano Duo Association of Korea.

Currently, he is performing Solo and Chamber recitals around the world, accompanying vocalists and instrumentalists at the University of Texas at Austin, and teaching piano lessons.