Dongwon Shin, a South Korean-born pianist, began his piano studies at age six. At fourteen, he made his orchestral debut with the Sunhwa Symphony Orchestra at Universal Arts Center. Shin has earned top prizes in numerous competitions, including the Millersville International Piano Competition, Orbetello International Piano Competition, Southern Illinois Young Artist Competition, WPTA Spain International Piano Competition, Tokyo Asia Chopin International Piano Competition, Korea-Asia Piano Open Competition, and Segye Times Competition. Shin graduated from Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, where he studied with Roberto Plano. He is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree with Alan Chow at Eastman School of Music, where he serves as a piano teaching assistant.

Dongwon is the recipient of the W.T. Holland Memorial Piano Scholarship Endowment, the Chautauqua Women's Club Piano Scholarship and the Eleanor B. Daugherty Scholarship Fund.