Flutist Park Yeram, Lifetime Principal of Belgium's La Monnaie Royal Symphony

Flutist Park Yeram has been appointed as the principal flute of the Royal Symphony Orchestra La Monnaie in Belgium, becoming the first Korean to hold this lifetime position, her agency Stage One announced on the 11th.

Park Yeram was selected as the principal player through an audition in April last year, and after about a year of probation, she passed a vote by the entire orchestra last month and was appointed as the lifetime principal flute.

Flutist Park Yeram [Photo provided by Stage One]

The La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra in Belgium was founded in 1772 and boasts a long history and tradition. The orchestra's main stage, the La Monnaie Opera House, is a leading cultural institution in Belgium operated with national funding. Kazushi Ono and Antonio Pappano have served as music directors of the La Monnaie Symphony, and currently, Alain Altinoglu has been leading the orchestra as music director since 2016.

Park Yeram entered the Conservatoire de Saint-Maur in France at the age of 12, studying under Professor Philippe Lesgourgues. At 15, she advanced to the Conservatoire National Sup?rieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), where she studied with Professors Sophie Cherrier and Vincent Lucas, graduating at the top of her class in both bachelor's and master's programs. At 21, she became the first foreigner to join the Orchestre National d'Avignon as the lifetime principal flutist, and since the age of 22, she has been a lifetime professor at the Conservatoire de Saint-Maur (CRR De Saint-Maur), nurturing the next generation of musicians.