American pianist Joshua Mhoon is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most exciting young artists in classical music today. His exceptional talent was discovered at the age of seven, and despite a comparatively late introduction to music, his passion and rapid progress quickly set him apart. By the age of 15, Mhoon began studies at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music under the renowned Dr. James Giles, Director of Musical Performance. He currently studies at The Juilliard School in New York City with internationally celebrated pianists Emanuel Ax, Yoheved Kaplinsky, and  Julian Martin.

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Mhoon’s artistry has earned him top prizes in prestigious competitions including The DePaul National Concerto Competition, The Walgreens National Concerto Competition (Junior and Senior Divisions), and the Emilio del Rosario Concerto Competition. In 2023, he was named Silver Medalist at the inaugural Nina Simone Piano Competition, an award that significantly propelled his career, resulting in major engagements both in the United States and abroad for the 2025–2026 season.

 

In July 2025, Mhoon was asked to be one of four pianists to be the first-ever Artists in Residence for the inaugural Piano Festival of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, held in Riyadh. This historic event, a collaboration between the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, the Saudi Ministry of Culture, and Lang Lang  featured Mhoon performing and teaching over the course of a month, highlighting his role as both a performer and educator on the world stage.

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His performance career has taken him across the globe, with appearances in Japan, England, France, Greece, Turkey, Austria, Spain, and Italy, along with multiple concert tours in Germany. In the United States, he has graced the stages of many of the country's most iconic venues, including Carnegie Hall (Stern and Weill Recital Halls), Jazz at Lincoln Center, Steinway Hall, Chicago Symphony Center, Alice Tully Hall, the New World Symphony Center, and the famed Musikverein in Vienna.

He has shared the stage with major international artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang, Anthony McGill, Emanuel Ax, Randall Goosby, Gil Shaham, J'Nai Bridges, and performed under the baton of Louis Langrée with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Michael Stern with Orchestra LUMOS, Yannick Nezet Seguin, Carlos Miguel Prieto, as well as concerts with The Chicago Sinfonietta, Chicago Philharmonic, Midwest Young Artists Orchestera, National Youth Orchestra of the United States, and the Polizieorchester Sachsen, among others.

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Mhoon’s diverse musical upbringing in Chicago deeply informs his artistic voice. Growing up surrounded by the rich cultural traditions of Black American Music—including jazz, blues, gospel, R&B, and hip-hop—he brings a unique perspective to classical performance. His deep connection to his hometown has led to notable appearances at civic and cultural events, including performing at Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s historic inauguration at Wintrust Arena, a halftime performance at a Chicago Bulls game, and a joint event for Mayor Rahm Emanuel and China’s Vice Premier at the Harris Theater. His Chicago appearances span venues such as the Navy Pier, Ganz Hall, The Studebaker Theater, Pritzker Pavilion, Pianoforte Studios, and Bennett Gordon Hall at the Ravinia Festival. He has also gained attention through broadcast media, with TV appearances on The Tamron Hall Show, NBC Chicago, CBS Chicago, Redbull TV, WTTW's "Chicago Tonight", and The Mozart on TV Asahi (Japan). He was also featured in an Emmy Award-winning episode of Built to Last on PBS.

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Mhoon has captivated radio audiences with performances and interviews on NPR’s From the Top, New York's WQXR, Chicago's WFMT, WBEZ, and WVON’s Cliff Kelley Show, engaging listeners from diverse backgrounds and helping to bridge communities through music. In addition to his classical training, Mhoon has studied jazz and spontaneous composition with luminaries such as the late Willie Pickens, Steve Million, and Bobby Irving III (Miles Davis’s former music director). He continues to benefit from the mentorship of internationally respected artists, including Lang Lang and Anthony McGill, principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic. 2026 sees the release of Mhoon's first venture in to film scoring as the composer of the film, "A Wood's Tale". 

 

Outside of music, Mhoon enjoys photography, yoga, and studying the financial markets—but above all, his greatest passion remains music. As he stated in a 2016 interview with WTTW, “I definitely want to make music my life.” Today, it's clear that Joshua Mhoon is doing just that.

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He is proud to be a Young Steinway Artist, and he remains committed to expanding the reach of classical music to new and more inclusive audiences around the world.