Koreans seize major prizes at global music competitions
Korean musicians are winning prizes at major global music competitions.
After pianist Sohn Jeung-beum won first prize at the respected 66th German classical music competition, the ARD Music Competition, Friday, as the first Korean to win in the category, other Korean musicians have followed, clinching victory in other categories and competitions.
Oboist Ham Kyeong was awarded second prize at the same competition in the oboe category, Sunday. He was one of three finalists in the competition who all tied in second place. Ham is the first Korean to receive the highest prize for the oboe in the competition and the first Korean musician in seven years to receive a prize in the wind instrument category after flutist Kim Soo-yun who came in third in 2010.
The 24-year-old played R. Strauss’ Oboe Concerto in D Major in the final round which won him the prize. He was awarded 7,500 euros.
Ham was among three finalists from the initial 39 of the first round. The competition was held from Sept. 2 to 10. Germany’s Juliana Koch and New Zealand’s Thomas Hutchinson also tied for second place. Ham will perform with the other two prizewinners from Sept. 13 to 15 with Munchner Symphoniker, Munich Chamber Orchestra and Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks.
Ham entered Seoul Arts High School but left for Germany during his first year and studied at the Trossingen Musikhochschule and the Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin. He completed his studies at the Berlin Philharmonic’s Herbert von Karajan Academy (2013-2015) with Jonathan Kelly.
He received several prizes, such as the Heinz Holliger Special Prize in 2013 by Holliger himself, and first prize in the Muri Competition for oboe and bassoon in 2013. He was appointed principal oboist of the Hannover Staatsoper in January 2016 and second oboe with RCO Amsterdam since August 2016.
In the 24th International Johannes Brahms Competition held in Portschach, Austria, from Sept. 2 to 10, three Korean musicians clinched top prizes.
Lee Eun-bin was the youngest contestant to receive the first prize in viola as a 14-year-old player. She played Bartok’s Viola Concerto in the final round and was awarded 2,500 euros. Ziyu Shen from China came in second and Sao Soulez Lariviere from France came in third among the 52 participants.
The Brahms Competition does not have an age limit and Lee competed as the youngest contestant. She received perfect scores in four out of 10 from categories the judges, with a compliment saying she has “amazing expression and technique which is unbelievable for a 14-year-old.”
Lee started playing violin at age five and grabbed hold of the viola at age 11. She is in her second year at Yewon School, a middle school dedicated to arts education. She made her debut in the Keumho Talent Concert with a solo recital last year.