Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
Cellist Han Jae-min wins third prize at Geneva International Music Competition
Cellist Han Jae-min / Courtesy of Pie Plans
By Park Ji-won
By Park Ji-won
Cellist Han Jae-min, 15, has won third prize at the 75th Geneva International Music Competition, Switzerland, Thursday (CET). It was the first time for a Korean cellist to win an award in the competition in about 50 years, since cellist Chung Myung-wha won first prize in 1971, the Kumho Cultural Foundation said.
Founded in 1939, the international competition has been held for musicians under the age of 29 for various instruments including cello, oboe, piano, flute, and voice. Also a string quartet category and a composers' category have been categories of the competition. This year, the competition for the categories of cello and oboe were held. The competition for the same category is held every four years. In addition to the third prize, Han was also awarded the special Rose-Marie Huguenin prize.
Japanese cellist Michiaki Ueno, 25, and Canadian Bryan Cheng, 24, won the first and second prizes, respectively.
Han played Elgar's “Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85,” accompanied by the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, conducted by Georg Fritzsch for the final round.
In addition to the prize money of 8,000 Swiss francs ($8,771), the winners are given the chance to develop their musical careers, such as via concert tours for the next two years, recordings, a two-year management contract with Geneva Promusica ― a management company for Geneva International Music Competition winners ― and workshops.
Earlier this year, the talented cellist also won the top prize in the George Enescu International Cello Competition in Bucharest, Romania, becoming the youngest ever winner of the competition.
Han currently attends Korea National University of Arts, studying under Professor Lee Kang-ho. He also trained under Chung, who was a jury member for the competition's cello section.
Korea's past winners of the Geneva International Music Competition include: cellist Chung, first prize in 1971; flautist Kim Chang-kook, second prize in 1969; pianist Kim Da-sol, third prize in 2008; pianist Mun Ji-Yeong, first prize in 2014; composer Choi Jae-hyuck, first prize in 2017 and percussionist Bak Hye-ji, first prize in 2019.