Eliot Goldmund (born Euntaek Kim) is an American pianist, conductor, and composer, whose musical prowess has been lauded as “nimble” and “colorful” (Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times) and a “real pianistic talent.” (Roy Westbrook, MusicWeb International)

Native of Incheon, South Korea, Eliot moved to the U.S. at the age of 13, after sweeping all of the major piano competitions in his native country. Eliot went on to win prizes in numerous competitions, including The 4th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians, The Oberlin International Piano Competition, and The Center for Musical Excellence Grant. Eliot was also the main feature of the 2005 PBS documentary, titled “Euntaek Kim and Performance of Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy.” 

Eliot received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from The Juilliard School where he studied under Jerome Lowenthal. When Eliot was admitted to The Juilliard School at the age of 16, he was awarded the “Presidential Distinction,” which denoted the highest score awarded among the applicants auditioned in the year. He went on to complete his Artist Diploma on a full scholarship at Yale University under the tutelage of Boris Berman. Before college, Eliot was enrolled at the Pre-College Division of The Korean National University of Arts, where he studied under Bokhee Chang and Jongpil Lim; and The Juilliard School Pre-College. Eliot also studied privately under the legendary Chinese pianist Yin Chengzong.

As a concert pianist, Eliot has made solo appearances in venues across the globe, including Belgium, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, and the United States. As a chamber musician, Eliot has collaborated with members of Aeolus, Calidore, Enso, Escher, Parker, and Ying quartets. Eliot’s collaborations with Heartbeat Opera and Cantata Profana, based in New York City, in their modernized rendition of Beethoven’s Fidelio in May 2018 was praised by The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Eliot’s tantalizing appearances in June 2018 at the catacomb of Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY, as a part of the world premiere of David Hertzberg’s new chamber opera The Rose Elf, were lauded by WQXR as “the best opera event of 2018.” Eliot’s exquisite performances can be heard in his debut solo album, “Debut - CME Presents Vol. 3: Russian Piano” under the MSR Classics label, as well as in “Hertzberg: The Rose Elf” (under Meyer Media LLC) and “The Wake World” (under Tzadik label).

Eliot’s 2024-2025 season will include all piano sonatas and sonatinas by Sergei Prokofiev, as part of his ongoing project to record all piano works by the composer. He is proud to continue the legacy of his mentor Boris Berman, who first recorded all of Prokofiev’s piano music.