Pianist Sohn wins German music contest
A 26-year-old Korean pianist won first prize at the respected German classical music competition, ARD Music Competition, Friday (local time).
Sohn Jeung-beum is the first Korean to win in the piano category in the history of the competition which began in 1952 in Munich, Germany. The ARD is the largest classical music competition in Germany and had its 66th anniversary this year. Sohn won in the final round of the three-round competition with Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. He will be awarded 10,000 euros.
South Korean Culture Minister Do Jong-whan sent a congratulatory message Saturday to Sohn for the win and in appreciation for promoting Korea’s classical excellence and artistry.“Sohn’s winning of the prize helped publicize Korean musicians’ outstanding artistry to the world,” Do said. “I hope the event will be a stepping stone in expanding the reach of classical music. I wish Sohn will be remembered as the world’s greatest pianist in the minds of the people.”
Sohn was among 34 finalists who competed in the piano category, nine of whom were Koreans. In the final round, three prize winners were announced including Germany’s Fabian Muller in second place and Japan’s Wataru Hisasue in third. The competition was held from Aug. 29 through Sept. 8. Sohn will be performing on stage with the other two prize winners from Sept. 13 through 15 with Munchner Symphoniker, Munich Chamber Orchestra and Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks.
Previous Korean winners of the competition include Park Hye-yoon who won first prize in violin in 2009 and Lee Yu-ra who won first prize in viola in 2013. Renowned conductor Chung Myung-whun was among the first Koreans to receive a prize at the competition with the second prize in piano in 1973.
This year’s competition categories were limited to violin, piano, oboe, and guitar while next year’s competition will be limited to voice, viola, trumpet and piano trio.
Sohn graduated from Seoul Arts High School and Korea National University of the Arts. He received a master’s degree at Germany’s national music school, Hochschule fur Musik und Theater Munchen. Sohn debuted in 1999 at the Keumho Talent Concert at age eight. He has won numerous prizes at international competitions such as second prize (with no first) at George Enescu International Competition in 2011, the Paul Streit award at the Geneva International Music Competition in 2012, second place at the Val Tidone International Competition in 2013 and third place at the Isang Yun International Competition in Korea the same year.