Violist Lee Haesu Wins Germany ARD International Music Competition

Received 'Cheongjung Award' and 'Osnabrueck Music Award' as well

Violist Lee Hae-su (24) won first place in the viola category at the 72nd ARD International Music Competition held in Munich, Germany.

Violist Lee Hae-su Photo by Kumho Cultural Foundation

On the 11th, the Kumho Cultural Foundation announced that Lee Hae-su performed William Walton's Viola Concerto with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Andrew Grams) on the final stage held at the Hercules Hall in Munich, securing first place. No second place was awarded, and Ionel Ungureanu from Germany and Takehiro Konoe from Japan tied for third place. Lee Hae-su also received two special awards (Audience Award and Osnabr?ck Music Award).

This year's ARD International Music Competition was held for harp, double bass, piano trio, and viola categories, with the viola category taking place over nine days from the 2nd to the 10th (local time).

After the preliminary round, 46 participants advanced to the finals, and after three rounds of competition, three violists including Lee Hae-su reached the final stage.

Lee Hae-su will receive a first prize of 10,000 euros (approximately 14.29 million KRW) and special prize money of 9,000 euros (approximately 12.85 million KRW). Additionally, as the winner of the viola category, she was awarded a Geba special prize, which is a musical instrument case. She will also have the opportunity to perform with the Osnabr?ck Symphony Orchestra as part of the Osnabr?ck Music Award.

Started in 1952, the Munich ARD Competition is Germany's most prestigious music competition covering all classical fields, including instrumental, vocal, and chamber music, with 21 categories. The viola category was first held in 1962 and this year marked its 15th edition.

Notable past winners in the ARD viola category include Nobuko Imai (joint 2nd place without 1st in 1967), Kim Kashkashian (joint 3rd place without 1st in 1980), Barbara Westphal (2nd place without 1st in 1983), Yeon Hwang Shin (2nd place without 1st in 1993), Antoine Tamestit (1st place in 2004), and Di Yang Mei (1st place in 2018). Korean winners include Yoo Ra Lee (1st place in 2013) and Kyungmin Park (2nd place in 2013).

Other notable participants from this competition include Myung-whun Chung (piano, 2nd place in 1973), Bom So-ri Kim (violin, joint 2nd place in 2013), Yubin Kim (flute, 1st place in 2022), Sumi Hwang (vocal, 2nd place in 2012), and the Shin Park Duo (piano duo, 2nd place in 2015).

Lee Hae-su studied under Roberto Diaz and Yeon Hwang Shin at the Curtis Institute of Music after attending the Juilliard Pre-College and the Korea National University of Arts gifted program. She completed her master's degree studying with Tabea Zimmermann at the Hans Eisler Hochschule f?r Musik in Germany.

Lee Hae-su debuted in 2011 with the Kumho Prodigy Concert and became the youngest winner of the Primrose International Viola Competition in 2018. She has also won top prizes at the Johansen International String Competition and the Albert Greenfield Competition, achieving excellent results in major international competitions. She has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Prince George Philharmonic Orchestra, and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Sponsored by the Samsung Foundation of Culture, she plays a Gasparo da Sal? viola made in 1590.

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