Soprano Kim Doyeon, K-Arts Music Student, Makes History with 1st Place Win in Prestigious Aslico Opera Competition

Soprano Kim Doyeon, a current student at the K-Arts School of Music, has achieved a historic milestone by officially debuting in Italian opera after acquiring the 1st position in the Aslico Competition, marking the first Korean singer in its 75-year history. Kim's victory earned her the coveted main roles in Giacomo Puccini's opera, "La Boheme."

The global final round of the Aslico Competition concluded on January 7 in Como, Italy. Over 400 young vocalists, who had advanced from regional preliminary rounds, competed in this edition, making it the most competitive in the contest's history. Kim Doyeon emerged victorious with an outstanding performance of Gaetano Donizetti's opera piece, securing the role of Musetta in "La Boheme."

Kim's clean and captivating voice, showcased in her rendition of "Quel guardo, il cavaliere" from Donizetti's "Don Pasquale," impressed the judges and distinguished her from other contestants. In a previous Seoul competition, Kim secured 2nd place and a prize of 3,000 Euros (approximately 4.2 million KRW). The renowned opera director Dominique Meyer, currently serving as the General Director of La Scala in Milan, Italy, conducted the award ceremony.

Having signed a contract with the Aslico Theatre, Kim Doyeon will undergo a designated training period, during which she will perform on stages in Europe and the United States as an official member of the Theatre. The Aslico Competition, initiated in 1949, has been instrumental in discovering and debuting world-class opera singers, making it distinct from other contests. Winners undergo training sessions starting in June, supported by subsidies, and commence participating in the season's performances as performers from September onwards.