Kim Yeongjae, KNIGA, Placed 1^st in Osaka International Music Competition

Kim Yeongjae (age 17), a current student of the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts (KNIGA), won 1^st prize in the wind instruments for under age 18 section and the special prize, Leopard Bellan Award, at the 25^th Osaka International Music Competition.

The Osaka International Music Competition is an annual event where young musicians from around the globe vie to earn recognition for their excellence in wind, string, vocal, and piano.

Kim took first in his category in the final at Abeno Community Center in Osaka on 13 October. On the next day, 14 October, at Takatsuki Arts Theatre, at the grand-prix final gala concert where the first-prize winner of each category performed, Kim basked in the glory of earning the Leopold Bellan Award.

Kim placed 2^nd for the high school student section in the 73^rd Ewha-Kyunghyang Music Competition, where there was no 1^st prize winner, after taking 3^rd for the same section in the 72^nd event. He placed 1^st in Youngsan Music Competition, National Student Music Scholarship Competition, Soliall Philharmonic Competition, Korea Wind Competition, and Nanpa Music Competition. Kim further won awards in other competitions, including the Sung-jung Music Competition, Music Journal Competition, and more. He lately held a recital in a rising star series.

Kim Yeongjae said, “I’m very glad to earn a good result on a global stage in the middle of learning and challenging. I’d like to thank my teacher, who guided me, and my family. I’ll strive more to become a true musician.”