South Korea’s ISANGYUN Violin Competition Announces 2024 Semi-Finalists

The semi-final round will be streamed LIVE on The Violin Channel on November 6 and 7

Presented by the Tongyeong International Music Foundation since 2003, the ISANGYUN Competition is named for the renowned Korean composer Isang Yun (1917-1995) and supports emerging international soloists and cultural exchange among nations. The competition alternates between violin, cello, and piano editions each year.

Being held from November 2–10, 2024, in the Tongyeong Concert Hall in South Korea, the edition for violinists aged 15 to 30 received 140 applications from across 26 countries. The 2024 competition is being streamed LIVE here on The Violin Channel.

Following the first rounds, nine semi-finalists have been picked to proceed to the second round, which will take place on November 6 and 7. They are:

• Seoyeon Baik — South Korea, b.2007
• Eun Che Kim — South Korea, b.1997
• William Hsueh-hung Lee — Taiwan, b.1999
• Hyun Jae Lim — South Korea, b.1997
• Chaowen Luo — China, b.2001
• Eunjoong Park — South Korea, b.2001
• Zhiyuan Qian — China, b.2009
• Jake Dongyoung Shim — South Korea, b.2001
• Rino Yoshimoto — Japan, b.2003

Chaired by Mihaela Martin, the 2024 jury comprises Christian Altenburger, Martin Beaver, Michiko Kamiya, Ida Kavafian, Hyuna Kim, Sung-Ju Lee, Douglas Sheldon, and Weidong Tong.

Prizes offered at the competition include a KRW 30,000,000 (~21,500 USD) first prize; second prize with KRW 20,000,000 (~14,300 USD); third prize with KRW 10,000,000(~7,100 USD); and fourth place with KRW 5,000,000(~$3,500 USD).

Opportunities for the first prize winner include a performance at the Orchestra Festival hosted by the Seoul Arts Center, Music in PyeongChang hosted by the Gangwon Art & Culture Foundation, and the DMZ OPEN Festival. Winners will also perform solo with the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra and the Gwangju Symphony Orchestra.

Additional prizes include the Isang Yun Special Prize, the Seong-Yawng Park Special Prize, and the UNESCO City of Music Special Prize — an audience award for the participant with the majority of votes.