K-Arts Cellist Park Sang-hyeok Clinches Second Place at Prestigious Penderecki Cello Competition in Poland 

Cellist Park Sang-hyeok, currently studying in the School of Music, placed second at the 4^th Krysztof Penderecki International Cello Competition in Krakow, Poland. The Penderecki International Cello Competition is named after Krzysztof Penderecki (1933-2020), the world's prestigious composer and conductor from Poland. Founded in 2008, the event takes place every five years.

Park Sang-hyeok went to the final round with three other survivors from the semi-final round in which 42 candidates had competed. In the final round, Park co-performed with the Orchestra of the Capital Royal City of Krakow Sinfonietta Cracovia led by conductor Katarzyna Tomala-Jedynak. They played Penderecki’s Viola Concerto for Cello and Haydn's Cello Concerto No.2 in D Major Hob. VII b:2.

Born in 2004, Park Sang-hyeok was admitted to the K-Arts as a gifted-in-arts student after completing the curriculum at the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts (KNIGA). Ever since Park has studied with cellists Lee Kangho (current Dean of School of Music), Jang Hyungwon, and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi. Park completed the Cello Masterclasses & Concerts at Kronberg Academy. Throughout his music career path, he was awarded a full scholarship by the International Academy of Music in Liechtenstein and the Grand Prize by Shinhan Music Awards. In 2023, he took 3^rd in cello at the 2023 International Tchaikovsky Competition. His worldwide achievements include winning the 1^st and Grand Prix in the David Popper International Cello Competition, 2^nd in the International Cello Competition Antonio Janigro Junior, 1^st in the Dong-A Junior Music Competition, and 1^st in the JoongAng Music Concours.