Tchaikovsky International Competition, Kim Gyehee, Lee Yeongeun, Son Jihoon Win... 'First Korean Winners in Instrumental Category'

Koreans Sweep 3 Categories: Violin, Cello, and Vocal Performance

Korean participants swept the violin, cello, and vocal categories at the Tchaikovsky International Competition.

Tchaikovsky Competition Kim Gyehee, Lee Yeongeun, Son Jihoon Take First Place
From left: Kim Gyehee (Violin), Lee Yeongeun (Cello), Son Jihoon (Vocal)
[Photo by Tchaikovsky Competition Official Website]

According to the Tchaikovsky International Competition website on the 30th, Kim Gyehee won the violin category, Lee Yeongeun won the cello category, and Son Jihoon won the vocal category. This is the first time a Korean has won in the instrumental category.

In the vocal category, Jeong Inho tied for second place, Park Sanghyuk took third place in the cello category, and flutist Kim Yesung tied for third place in the woodwind category. Yesua, who advanced to the piano finals, tied for fourth place, and Lee Dongyeol ranked fifth in the cello category.

The Tchaikovsky Competition was held from the 20th to the 29th in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Russia. Established in 1958 in Moscow, Russia, the Tchaikovsky International Competition targets young musicians worldwide aged 16 to 32.

The Tchaikovsky Competition is considered one of the "world's top three competitions" alongside the Chopin Competition in Poland and the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium, making it a prestigious event. However, its status declined after the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC) under UNESCO revoked its membership earlier this year due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Past Korean laureates include Jeong Myeonghun (tied 2nd place in piano, 1974), Baek Hyesun (tied 3rd place in piano, 1994), Son Yeoreum (2nd place in piano, 2011), Cho Seongjin (3rd place in piano, 2011), Lee Ji-hye (3rd place in violin, 2011), Kim Donghyun (3rd place in violin, 2019), tenor Choi Hyunsoo (1st place in vocal, 1990), baritone Kim Dongseop (3rd place in vocal, 2002), soprano Seo Seonyeong (1st place in female vocal, 2011), bass Park Jongmin (1st place in male vocal, 2011), baritone Yoo Hanseung (3rd place in vocal, 2015), and baritone Kim Gihun (2nd place in vocal, 2019).

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