Young Korean classical music artists are continuing to collect honors at acclaimed music contests across the world.
Two recent competitions in Russia and the U.S. were no exception.
Cho Jun-hwi, 18, won the New York International Piano Competition, held from June 23-27, organizers said Thursday.
Along with the top honor, the young pianist received a cash prize of $10,000 and the opportunity to make concert appearances throughout America, beginning next year. The Stecher and Horowitz Foundation, which organizes the competition every two years, will present him in numerous distinguished venues, the foundation said in a statement.
Cho Jun-hwi
Cho, who has finished his music education in Korea, is now attending the Pre-College Division of the Juilliard School in the U.S.
More recently in Russia, four Korean youngsters bagged upper-rank prizes ― second, third and fourth ― at the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians that ended on July 2.
Fourteen-year-old Lee Su-bine placed joint second in the violin section, followed by Suh Yu-min, 16, in joint third. In the cello section, Jung Woo-chan, 15, placed joint second, followed by Pyo Hyun-ah, 13, in fourth.
All four belong to the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation’s prodigy program.
The Russian competition is one of the most prestigious for young artists in the classical music world. Chinese pianist Lang Lang won the contest in 1995 at the age of 13.
Korean pianist Son Yeol-eum, then 11, came second in 1997, when no first prize was awarded.
By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)
