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<Introductions of KH music contest winners>
Piano
Jun Sung-jin Á°ýÈ£15, Yewon School, first prize in middle school category¿ì°ýÈ£
"I couldn''t believe I won. Because there were so many talented contestants, I was very nervous and did not expect to win at all. I think the judges thought highly of my choice of performing "La Valse" which is rarely played on the piano," Jun said.
Although Jun tends to be unlucky in drawing lots and feared being the last to perform at the finals, he said he picked the first and was both relieved and nervous. He added that he likes to watch acclaimed musicians'' performances through Youtube.
Jung Young-hwan Á°ýÈ£16, Seoul Arts High School, first prize in high school category¿ì°ýÈ£
Jung is an up-and-coming young artist who entered Seoul Arts High School at the top of the class and has won multiple local music competitions until now. He got acquainted with classical music at the age of three thanks to the influence of his father who is a huge fan of the genre.
Jung picked Murray Perahia and Evegeny Kissin as his favorite musicians, and Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 as his favorite piece. He has passion for not only the piano but in the future would like to conduct.
Park Keun-tae Á°ýÈ£18, Yonsei University, first prize in university category¿ì°ýÈ£
Growing up with a mother who majored in music, Park began playing the piano at the age of seven and has swept-up numerous local competitions since he was in middle school.
Park said he likes to watch movies and added that he "wants to become an artist who can touch a lot of peooke through performances."
Violin
Kim So-jeong Á°ýÈ£15, Busan Arts Middle School, first prize in middle school category¿ì°ýÈ£
Kim is the only Busan native among the winners of the competition, where those from Seoul are an absolute majority. Kim is a person full of imagination and likes to read cartoons and mystery novels when she is not playing the violin.
Kim said it was by a chance lesson at a community culture center that she got to know the violin. The more she played it the more she wanted to know about the instrument, and ended up studying it in earnest.
"I''m delighted that I won the first place even though I didn''t expect to, thinking that I still have a lot to improve," she said. "I will try to bring out more mature performances that I can both enjoy and be satisfied with," she said.
Ji Sang-hee Á°ýÈ£19, Seoul National University, first prize in university category¿ì°ýÈ£
College freshman Ji said, "I played an abstract contemporary piece in the finals but the results were good so that now I have some confidence about playing contemporary pieces."
Ji''s parents are both artists but they also loved classical music so that she has been surrounded by music since she was young. She started playing the violin at the age of seven when she received the instrument as a birthday gift.
While looking up to violinists David Oistrakh and Yang Go-un, who is her master, Ji said she enjoys painting like her parents as well.
Jung Won-young Á°ýÈ£23, Graduate of Seoul National University, first prize in university category¿ì°ýÈ£
"The preparation for the competition was rushed and because I have not been on the stage for a while, I was not satisfied with my performance. So I''m thankful for the big prize. It feels more meaningful because the competition was held for the first time," Jung said.
Jung particularly respects violinists Isaac Stern and Jung Kyung-hwa, plus soprano Maria Callas, she said. Although a classical music major, as a 20-something, she also likes listening to hard-core rap and R&B music, she said.
Viola
Yoon Yu-ri Á°ýÈ£15, Daegu Dongbu Middle School, first prize in middle school category¿ì°ýÈ£
"I thank my parents who couldn''t rest on weekends because of my lessons in Seoul and my teacher who gave me lessons late through the night on the weekend," Yoon, who lives in Daegu, said.
Yoon''s talent was discovered early when she read musical scores in kindergarten at the age of five without prior learning, leading her to start playing violin. She recently switched to the viola, captivated by its sound, she said.
"I want to perform well and also become an artist who can give back the teaching that I received to others," she said.
Jeong Ha-rim Á°ýÈ£17, Sunhwa Arts High School, first prize in high school category¿ì°ýÈ£
Jeong learned the piano during her kindergarten years in Saipan where her father worked. She was also influenced by her mother who majored in piano.
Jeong, who had a tough time at the finals because she had to change the piece she was playing, said "because I focused only on music on stage, I think I was able to achieve good result."
Jeong chose Paul Hindemith as her favorite composer and added that she wants to become a violist who can play music with heart.
Kim Ji-eun Á°ýÈ£23, Seoul National University, first prize in university category¿ì°ýÈ£
"The prize was unexpected because I participated in the competition amid a hectic college senior life, but I am very pleased at the unexpected result. I think it will work as a good stimulus for me as I''ve been feeling that as the more senior I become in school, music becomes harder," Kim said.
Kim, who was so busy that she cut down on her sleep to rehearse for the competition, said that she "desires to become a musician who feels happiest on stage." She previously has won The Journal of Music Competition as well as CBS Music Competition.
Flute
Park Joo-hyung Á°ýÈ£15, Yewon School, first prize in middle school category¿ì°ýÈ£
"My performance at the preliminaries was not that satisfying to me, but I think that made me concentrate better at the finals," Park said
Park got fascinated with the sound of flute when she went to a concert at seven and started learning it since third grade. She said winning the competition was meaningful because she was preparing to enter an arts high school at the same time.
Park named Mozart Flute Concerto as her favorite piece, and flutists Philippe Bernold and Park Eui-kyung as her favorite artists.
Park Han-ah Á°ýÈ£18, Sunhwa Arts High School, first prize in high school category¿ì°ýÈ£
Park began learning the flute through participating in an extracurricular class at school for fun but decided to major in the instrument after she met her master at a youth orchestra.
"I entered the competition as a way of doing final checks with myself before the college entrance exam but I ended up winning which gave me a lot of confidence," she said. "I will do my best to train myself to become a decent musician who delivers beautiful sound."
Cho Sung-hyun Á°ýÈ£19, Hannover MusikHochschule, first prize in university category¿ì°ýÈ£
As an elementary student, Cho used to sleep every night listening to flute recordings ever since he was captivated by the crisp and clear sound of the instrument at a concert at Seoul Arts Center at 10.
"Because my friend accompanied me on the piano in the finals I think I was able to participate in the competition lightheartedly as if it were a test in a middle-school music class. In middle school, I said my ultimate goal was to become a member of Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, to which everyone laughed. But that goal hasn''t changed," he said.
Yu Ji-hong Á°ýÈ£24, graduate of Seoul National University, first prize in University category¿ì°ýÈ£
"First I played the piano. But after watching one of my cousin give a flute performance, I was mesmerized by the sound and started learning the instrument," Yu said.
Yu is interested not only in flute but also orchestra music. In particular, he loves Sir Simon Rattle''s passionate conducting. These days, he is into Mahler Symphonies.
Cello
Lee Young-gwang Á°ýÈ£14, Chungun Middle School, first prize in middle school category¿ì°ýÈ£
"I''m filled with joy that my name is included on the list of winners at the 1st Korea Herald Music Competition," Lee said. "The competition, as well as future ones to come, I believe will help me improve."
Lee began playing the cello at the age of six after being moved by the sound of the instrument on recordings. He added that he especially looks up to cellist Yo-yo Ma and enjoys listening to Bach Prelude No. 1.
Kim Na-yeon Á°ýÈ£18, Seoul Arts High School, first prize in high school category¿ì°ýÈ£
Kim started playing cello for fun at the age seven but was drawn more to the instrument after winning a competition. It wasn''t long before she felt deeper and deeper into the instrument''s unique sound. Although she has been playing the instrument for more than 11 years, Kim said she still finds it amusing that she can actually play the tunes she used to listen on CDs.
"I thank God who gave me talent, and my parents who gave me an opportunity to get to know the cello. I will strive to become a better musician on the occasion of receiving this prize," she said.
Lim Jae-sung Á°ýÈ£22, Seoul National University of Arts, first prize in university category¿ì°ýÈ£
"The competition was mentally very burdening for me because it began less than a week after I came back to Korea," Lim said. He had been in Germany for two weeks performing with a chamber ensemble which was a result of him receiving a special award at London International String Quartet Competition earlier the year.
Lim is interested in chamber music as well as in playing solo, and is currently leading a chamber ensemble at Seoul National University of Arts. He hopes to make cello enjoyable to a lot of people either as a solo instrument or as part of chamber music.
Oboe
Lim Hyun-ae Á°ýÈ£14, Yewon School, first prize in middle school category¿ì°ýÈ£
Lim is the only first prize winner for the oboe across the categories.
She was introduced to the instrument in fourth grade through an after-school class. Captivated by the sound, she decided to study it in earnest.
"I''m very happy that I became a winner at the competition which took place for the first time. I''ll always do my best to become an oboist who always performs with warm heart and sincerity," she said.
Classical singing
Lee Hye-jin Á°ýÈ£16, Seoul Arts High School, first prize in high school women category¿ì°ýÈ£
Lee developed a desire to become a classical singer from elementary school days when she used to enjoy singing nursery songs. She has been playing the piano since she was six years old and began taking classical singing lessons after entering Yewon School.
Lim said she looks up to Luciano Pavarotti while choosing "Piangero la Sorte Mia" from Handel''s "Julius Caesar" as her favorite tune.
Kim Sung-gyeol Á°ýÈ£24, Yonsei University, first prize in university men category¿ì°ýÈ£
The Korea Herald Music Competition was Kim''s first-ever music competition.
Kim said he became familiar with classical singing listening to the performances of his mother who was a classical singer as well as those of Pavarotti. Kim is multi-talented, being able to compose and play other instruments as well.
"I want to become an influential musician who can move any audience and offer them happiness. I will do my best to make this prize worth it in the future," he said.
