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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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