18-Year-Old Pianist Sohn Sehyuk Wins Prague Spring International Music Competition

Tubist Kang Byungho Wins Third Prize at the Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition in Germany

Kumho Cultural Foundation announced on May 15 that pianist Sohn Sehyuk, born in 2008, won first place in the piano category at the 77th Prague Spring International Music Competition, which concluded in Prague, Czech Republic, on May 14.

At the final round held at the Dvorak Hall of the Prague Rudolfinum, Sohn Sehyuk performed Brahms' Piano Concerto with the Prague Symphony Orchestra to claim the top prize. He also swept three special awards: the Viktor Kalabis & Zuzana Ruzickova Prize, the City of Prague Prize, and the Bärenreiter Prize.

Pianist Sohn Sehyuk. Kumho Cultural Foundation

Sohn Sehyuk received prize money of 250,000 CZK (approximately 17.9 million won) and secured an invitation to perform at next year's Prague Spring International Music Festival. The second and third prizes went to Zhiquan Wang and Xue Hong from China, respectively.

Sohn Sehyuk made his debut at the Kumho Prodigy Concert in 2021 and quickly gained attention by winning the Grand Prize at the Henle Piano Competition, first prize at the Korea Liszt Competition, and first prize at the Suri Music Competition. In 2022, he advanced to the finals of the Young Tchaikovsky International Music Competition and received the Best Performance of a Romantic Work award. After completing his third year at Yewon School, he moved to the UK to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree at the Colburn School in the United States under Fabio Bidini and Kim Jongyun.

The Prague Spring International Music Competition, which began in 1947, is an international competition for young musicians under the age of 30, featuring two different instrument categories each year. Previous Korean winners in the piano category include Park Jinhyung (2016) and Lee Dongha (2021). Other Korean prizewinners include Kim Yubin (2015, flute), Kim Sangyun (2015, clarinet), Yoo Chaeyeon (2019, flute), Arete Quartet (2021, string quartet), and Kim Minju (2022, bassoon).

Meanwhile, tubist Kang Byungho, also a Kumho Prodigy alumnus, took third place in the tuba category at the 2026 Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition, which concluded on the same day in Saxony, Germany. He received prize money of 3,500 euros (approximately 610,000 won).

Tubist Kang Byungho. Kumho Cultural Foundation

Kang Byungho made his debut at the Kumho Prodigy Concert in 2019 and performed at the Kumho Young Artist Concert the following year. He stood out in major Korean competitions, winning second prize at the Jeju International Brass Competition and the Busan Music Competition, and first prize at the Woohyun Music Competition. He graduated at the top of his class from Seoul Arts High School, receiving both the Music Award and the Unpa Im Wonsik Art Award. He studied under Kim Jincheol, Jens Bjorn-Larsen, Vikentios Gionanidis, and Konstantin Hartwig, and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree at the University of Music, Drama and Media Hanover in Germany.

The Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition is an international event held in Markneukirchen, Saxony, Germany. It began as a violin competition in 1950 and, since 1966, has alternated between two instrument categories each year. Previous Korean prizewinners include Moon Seoyoung (2nd place, cello, 2005), Jang Sunmi (2nd place, violin, 2007), Kim Damin (3rd place, violin, 2007), Sung Minjae (3rd place, double bass, 2011), Park Kyungmin (joint 3rd place, viola, 2013), Kim Wooyeon (3rd place, clarinet, 2014), Kim Sejoon (3rd place, viola, 2017), Lee Younggwang (1st place, cello, 2019), and Ma Seongye (3rd place, oboe, 2024).

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