Jeonghwan Kim wins the 2026 Isang Yun International Music Competition
The German pianist took first prize and the audience-voted special prize at this year's piano edition of the Tongyeong competition.
German pianist Jeonghwan Kim has won first prize in the piano category of the 2026 Isang Yun International Music Competition in Tongyeong, South Korea. In the final on November 7 at the Tongyeong International Music Hall, Kim played Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Tongyeong Festival Orchestra, conducted by Kim Dae-jin. He also received the UNESCO City of Music Special Prize, which was decided by audience vote.
Second prize went to Lee Ju-eon, 15, who was also given the Park Sung-yong Special Prize for young talent. Park Hae-rim placed third and received the Isang Yun Special Prize, given for the best interpretation of a work by Yun, for a performance of his Interludium A (1982). Robert Bily, who holds German and Czech nationality, placed fourth.
The competition rotates each year between piano, violin and cello. This year’s piano edition drew 215 applicants from 21 countries. Kim, who moved to Berlin in 2011, won the Sydney International Piano Competition in 2023.
Source: Seoul Shinmun, Gyeongnam Domin Ilbo
Quick question
Should competitions require a piece by the composer they are named after?
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