21-year-old pianist Cho Seong-jin won the first prize at the 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. (image: Fryderyk Chopin Inst.)
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — Pianist Cho Seong-jin has become the first South Korean to win the world-renowned Chopin competition, its organizer said Wednesday.
The 21-year-old pianist won the first prize at the 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, after the final round of competition, which lasted for three days, ended Tuesday (Warsaw time).
The second prize went to Charles Richard-Hamelin of Canada and the third to Kate Liu of the United States, according to the jury’s verdict.
Along with the first prize that gave him 30,000 euros (US$34,065) and a gold medal, he won the Fryderyk Chopin Society Prize for best performance of a polonaise that earned him 3,000 euros, according to the organizer. The winner is also entitled to have concerts in some of the world’s best-known halls and recording contracts.
Of 78 pianists from 20 countries, including Poland, the U.S. and China, he was one of the top 10 pianists from eight countries, and turned out to be the best person who performed one of Chopin’s piano concerti with the Warsaw Philharmonic. His choice was the Concerto in E minor, Op. 11.
It was the first time in 10 years that a South Korean player made the top 10, and the first time ever for a South Korean to win the competition. The best achievement by South Korean pianists so far was by Lim Dong-min and his brother Dong-hyek who won the third prize at the 2005 event.
“I’ve long been dreaming of taking part in the Chopin competition and decided to participate when I was 11. I finally achieved my dream,” Cho said before the final results were announced. “I was nervous during the finals, but I was happy to be here, and I’ve enjoyed it.”
Noting that he loves being a pianist, he said he is “well aware that it takes a long time to be a genuine artist.”
Launched in 1927 to sustain familiarity with the music of Fryderyk Chopin, the competition is recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious piano competitions. It takes place every five years in the master’s hometown of Warsaw, and young pianists aged between 16 and 30 can take part in the event.’
(Yonhap)
