Pianist Sun Youl Wins First Place at 2024 Gina Bachauer International Artists Competition

Pianist Sun Youl, graduate of Department of Instrumental Music at School of Music, won the Gold Medal at the 2024 Gina Bachauer International Artists Competition held in Saltlake City Utah, USA. In addition to winning the Gold Medal, Sun was the recipient of the Audience Choice Prize and Student Jury Prize. As award, Sun received cash award of $50,000, Commemorative Gold Medal, New York City concert engagement, concerto engagement with Utah Symphony, additional concert engagements, and Bachauer CD recording of selected repertory.

Sun played the L.V. Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15 and Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26 for the first and second final round, respectively. 

The competition began with 333 candidates representing 40 different countries. 120 pianists gave performances as part of Preliminary Round events held in Hamburg (Germany), New York City (USA), Hong Kong (China), and Salt Lake City (USA). 31 performed in Salt Lake City during Quarterfinal Rounds I and II. 12 performed 60-minute concerts during the Semifinal Round, and 3 continued on to the finals.