In 2018, Piano League talked with pianist Minsoo Sohn, a member of the jury at that year’s Honens International Piano Competition in Calgary. We asked him how a judge listens, what he writes down, and whether he would rather be on stage or behind the table.
What quality from a contestant catches your attention the most?
Compassion and humility! As well as identity and characteristics of a performer.
What is your number one hobby outside of piano?
I have a lifelong relationship with the art of chess. It’s a constant discovery for me, although machines have now figured us out long ago.
Do you remember the first competition you ever judged? What was it like?
The first competition I ever judged was a Pro-Am competition. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, the program and interpretations were the most interesting and deeply intellectual. I still vividly remember them even after many years.
Competitions are long. What kind of notes do you write to help you remember all the contestants’ playing?
I try to catch every detail. The slightest changes in nuance sometimes turn into great storytelling, and one doesn’t want to forget those experiences. Everything that happens during the performance has to be carefully noted in my book. But when a performer takes us on a journey where notes are irrelevant anymore, it transcends everything.
Do you listen differently as a judge in a competition than as an audience member in a concert?
As a musician, it is rather impossible not to have at least some opinion attending a concert or observing someone’s playing. But at the same time, I am ready to be swept away by a performance, and I hope for someone to take me into a trance with a fresh and original interpretation.
Do you prefer being a contestant or a judge, and why?
I had thought of it long ago: "What if I am on the other side?" But being on the other side doesn’t resolve the irony of musical competitions. How do you score numbers when exceptionally talented musicians pour their hearts out on stage? Everyone sees the mountain differently. Questions remain.