Violinists Choi Songha and Lee Subin Take 2nd and 3rd Place at Montreal Competition

Violinists Choi Song-ha (23) and Lee Soo-bin (23) took 2nd and 3rd place respectively at the 2023 Montreal International Music Competition on the 4th (local time).

From the left, violinists Choi Songha and Lee Subin. [Photo by Kumho Cultural Foundation]

On the 5th, the Kumho Cultural Foundation announced that Choi Song-ha and Lee Soo-bin ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively at the 2023 Montreal International Music Competition, which concluded on the 4th (local time) at the Maison Symphonique Concert Hall in Montreal, Canada. Choi Song-ha also received the highest Sonata Award in the semifinals and the Best Performance Award for a Canadian work.

The Montreal International Music Competition was established in 2001 by world-renowned vocalist Joseph Rouleau and Canadian politician and philanthropist Andr? Bourbeau to enhance the artistic influence of young musicians. Starting with the vocal category in 2002, the competition alternates annually among vocal, violin, and piano categories.

This year, 24 participants advanced to the finals. Through the first semifinal round, the final six contestants, including Choi Song-ha and Lee Soo-bin, were selected for the final round. The first place was awarded to Dmytro Udovychenko (22) from Ukraine.

Choi Song-ha, who placed 2nd, is a performer mainly active on the European stage. She graduated from the Korea National University of Arts Gifted Program and the Yehudi Menuhin School in the UK. She gained recognition by winning 2nd place and the Audience Award at the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition, 2nd place and a special prize at the Premio Lipizer International Violin Competition, and 2nd place at the Windsor Festival International Competition. She is currently studying under Professor Kolja Blacher at the Berlin University of the Arts Hans Eisler.

Lee Soo-bin, who placed 3rd, debuted in 2010 with the Kumho Young Artist Concert and won 1st place at the Moscow Oistrakh International Violin Competition, as well as 1st place, the Slomovic Award, and the Michael Award at the New York Young Concert Artists Auditions. He studied under the late Kim Nam-yoon, a 'godmother of the Korean violin world' and professor at Korea National University of Arts, who passed away last March. Currently, supported by the Kumho Cultural Foundation, he performs on a 1794 Giuseppe Guadagnini from Cremona, an Italian historical instrument.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.