3 School of Music Students Win in the 33^rd Sungjung Music Competition

At the 33^rd Sungjung Music Competition, “Winner Concert,” on 12 September, pianist Ji Hyeon-gyu had the glory of taking the grand prize. The competition discovers the leaders of the next generation in classical music. The 5 best prize winners in 4 sections, voice, piano, violin, and cello, were distinguished from 1,366 competitors. The contest winners and Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra co-presented the stage with their musical interpretations and colors.

Grand prize winner Ji Hyeon-gyu (alumnus of the School of Music, admitted to the MA program at New England Conservatory) performed Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Concerto No. 1,” showing his excellence in playing techniques and musical expressions. Ji was praised for demonstrating his eminence by perfectly carrying out the dramatic development of the piece with a splendid solo performance. Ji was granted the Minister of Culture & Sport Prize with the prize money of 20 million KRW.

Cellist Lee Somin (School of Music, Year 3) took the Suwon Music Prize (Mayor of Suwon Prize, prize money of 3 million KRW). Through the 1^st movement in Dvorak’s “Cello Concerto No.2,” Lee touched the audience’s emotion with the intensified profound sound of the cello.

Violinist Nilufar Mukhiddinova (School of Music, Artist Diploma program) played the 1^st movement in Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto in D Major,” showcasing colorful techniques and expressions, and won the Audience Award (Chancellor of Suwon Cultural Foundation Prize).

Since 1992, the Sungjung Cultural Foundation has paved the way for the future of Korea’s classical music, excavating and sponsoring the talents to advance to the wider world.