STEINWAY ARTIST APPLICATION

PREPARED FOR

Steinway & Sons logo with a decorative lyre emblem at the top.
A black and white photo of a man with glasses, wearing a dark jacket, sitting at a grand piano.

THE STORY OF GKO

Since the release of his first album, "Sonic Sanctum" (2020), GKO has been pioneering what's possible with the piano. Critics describe his playing as "performing wizardry, flowing yet bright, lively and heroic... with moments of nostalgia, reverie, and reflection." He combines decades of classical training with a gift for improvisation to speak with a candor all his own.

With his latest single, "Her Voice," GKO combines the rhythmic ferocity of modern jazz with the gentle beauty of Chopin. He says, "I want this song to showcase the power of the piano, how it can make you feel scared, excited, and serene. I believe the piano allows us to express emotion with a depth nothing else can match."

Born in California, GKO (previously George Ko) took his first lesson at 5. He was a reluctant student until his studies at Harvard, where he focused on piano performance and composition. GKO produced the first-ever Piano Performance Thesis in Harvard's history and received the David McCord Prize for exceptional musical talent and creativity. GKO has appeared on stages worldwide, including nine appearances at Carnegie Hall, and has performed as a guest artist at notable institutions, including The British Museum, TED, the MIT Media Lab, Berklee College of Music, and Tanglewood Institute of Music. His piano music can also be heard on tracks by The Black Keys, Foster the People, and Handsome Boy Modeling School.

GKO resides in Los Angeles. The Japanese indigo-boutique FDMTL outfits his concert wear. He is a Young Steinway Artist.`

TOUR DATES

April 10

Steinway Hall
London, UK

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The floating G of the logo for GKO, the Neo-impressionist classical pianist and Steinway Artist based in Los Angeles.

April 12

Thornden Hall
Hampshire, UK

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April 17

Princess Alexandra Auditorium
Yarm, UK

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April 18

Masterclass, University of Hull
Kingston upon Hull, UK

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April 18

Middleton Hall
Kingston upon Hull, UK

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The floating K of the logo for GKO, the Neo-impressionist classical pianist and Steinway Artist based in Los Angeles.

May 10

Eslite Performance Hall
Taipei, Taiwan

TBD

May 2

Libretto Jazz
Paso Robles, CA

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May 4

The Sun Rose
West Hollywood, CA

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The floating O of the logo for GKO, the Neo-impressionist classical pianist and Steinway Artist based in Los Angeles.

May 17

Abbey Arts
Seattle, WA

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May 18

The Old Church
Portland, OR

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May 25

Pelican Hill Resort
Newport Beach, CA

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TAKE A LISTEN

Black cinema marquee sign reading "It Ll Be Alone / No End / November 4-6" in white text.
A grayscale illustration of the moon with a face, showing closed eyes and a small mouth, and a clock in the center. The moon is labeled 'The Moon,' with additional labels 'GKO' at the top left and 'Goddess' at the bottom left.

2024

Illustration of a cartoon character with gray curly hair inside a glass dome, with a cosmic background and the words 'Vanguards of the Cosmos' written across it.

2022

An astronaut sitting inside a room, looking out a large window at a forest with leafless trees, mountains, and two suns in the sky, as part of a scene from the book cover 'Forest on the Moon' by George Ko.

2021

Illustration of a grand piano surrounded by peach-colored leaves and white blossoms, with a person sitting on a bench and piano keys visible, all framed by a pink border with the text 'Under the Peach Tree,' 'Art by Maggie Chiang,' and 'George Ko.'
Black silhouette of a camera with a lens, a viewfinder, and a flash, set against a white background.

2021

A man with glasses and a patterned jacket is speaking into a microphone on stage, gesturing with his right hand, while an audience of diverse young adults watches attentively in a dimly lit room with artwork on the walls.

MOMENTS

People gathered inside Steingway & Sons store, watching a white pianist playing a grand piano on display, with scooters and motorcycles visible outside through the large glass window.
A young man playing a grand piano on stage with a large pipe organ in the background, audience watching in a concert hall.
Two smiling people taking a selfie in a room with a grand piano and seating area.
A man standing on a stage, speaking into a microphone, next to a grand piano.
Performer taking a bow on stage after a concert in front of an audience, with a grand piano nearby, in a dimly lit theater.
Black and white line drawing of a human skull with detailed facial features and shading.
Diagram of a chemical reaction with elements, molecules, and electron orbitals.

TESTIMONIAL

Person playing a grand piano against a plain, light gray background.

“When I perform, I want the audience to have a transcendent and magical experience. The only piano in the world that unlocks that kind of wizardry is a Steinway.”

Silhouette of a young woman with long curly hair and glasses, wearing a dress, standing and smiling.

DOWNLOAD HANDWRITTEN TESTIMONIAL HERE

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BRAND PARTNERSHIPS

Text in black and gray reading "Maison fondée à Jarnac en 1828, Courvoisier, Le Cognac de Napoleon"
Logo of Maison Kitsuné Paris with black text on a white background.
Logo of MIT Media Lab featuring overlapping gray squares and the text 'mit media lab' in gray.
Text logo with the word 'FOMTL' in large gray letters, and 'TOKYO, JAPAN' underneath in smaller gray capital letters.
Gray TED logo on a white background.
The British Museum logo with text in gray on a white background
Black and white logo of Omega featuring the Greek letter omega above the word Omega, with a simple and modern design.
Logo for The Resort at Pelican Hill, Newport Beach, featuring a minimalist pelican illustration and elegant text.

MERCH

Black tote bag with white text reading 'GKO The Moon Goddess'
Young woman with dark hair, wearing a white t-shirt featuring a moon graphic, standing against a white background.
A vinyl record spinning on a turntable with a Brandon Scratch on the label and the title 'Vanguards of the Cosmos.' Part of a collection, with the album cover partially visible in the background.

ALL MATERIALS

To request additional materials, please email booking@GKOpiano.com

A resume or CV document for GKO, listing experience as a concert pianist, film, and recording artist, education from Harvard University, and awards and prizes.
RESUMÉ
Instagram profile page of GKO, a musician, with profile picture of a man wearing glasses and a jacket, and three posts promoting his music events and streaming.
INSTAGRAM
Black and white poster featuring a man wearing glasses, looking down, with bold text 'GKO' at the top, smaller text 'GKOpiano.com' on the right side, and '2024' at the bottom.
PRESS KIT
A music streaming service subscription page for artist GKO, Neo-Impressionist pianist, with options to subscribe via email, and links to Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and Tidal.
STREAMING
A man dressed in dark clothing covered by a long, brown cape standing in profile against a plain light gray background.
PHOTOS
A white quote box with black text on a gray background. The quote says, "I have to admit to being a bit skeptical until I started listening to the album itself. Now I'm a big fan and am really looking forward to hearing more of [GKO]'s music."
CRITICAL REVIEW
Man wearing glasses playing a grand piano.

Thank you all for reviewing my application for the Steinway Artist designation. I’m eternally grateful for all of your support over the years, and for being a partner, advocate, and champion of my career so far as a Young Steinway Artist. Each of you in the Steinway Family has made it possible for me to be at this stage. Thank you for continuing to make my favorite piano. —GKO

Thank you.

A man wearing glasses and a dark jacket looking downward, set against a bright white background.