I am covering trend, food and fashion. Previously, I covered diplomacy, city, environment and unification.
Van Cliburn Piano Competition CEO to visit Seoul for artist forum
Poster for "Beyond the Stage 2025: Next-Generation Artist Forum" / Courtesy of Arts Council Korea
By Kim Se-jeong
Legendary pianist Lim Yun-chan has made one name familiar to many Koreans: the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (VCIPC).
Named after American pianist Van Cliburn (1934-2013), the competition was founded in 1962 and is regarded as one of the world’s premier piano events. Lim’s sensational victory at the 2022 edition — and the speedy rise that followed — turned the competition into a household name, even among those unfamiliar with classical music.
This week, VCIPC CEO Jacques Marquis will visit Seoul to attend a forum on the future of classical music. He will speak about the future of classical music and meet aspiring young musicians hoping to follow in Lim’s footsteps on Friday and Saturday.
The two-day event, “Beyond the Stage 2025: Next-Generation Artist Forum,” is organized by Arts Council Korea (ARKO), a government organization operating under the slogan “Arts for All.” Marquis is scheduled to speak at two sessions — one on marketing for classical musicians in 2025, and another on recording labels and livestreaming in the evolving music industry.
“Our goal is to create an environment where young Korean musicians can reach global stages and build careers in the international music industry,” ARKO said in a statement explaining the purpose of the forum.
Marquis will be joined by 15 other high-profile figures from international music competitions and major festivals. Participants include Peter Paul Kainrath, president of the World Federation of International Music Competitions; Arthur van der Drift of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra; Michael Haefliger of the Lucerne Festival; Kim Jin-young, the Berlin Philharmonic’s Korean project manager; Glen Kwok of the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis; Didier Schnorhk of the Concours de Geneve; Ann-Paulin Steigerwald of the Vienna Konzerthaus; and Sisi Ye of the Schoenfeld International String Competition.
The forum comes at a moment when Korean musicians are flourishing on the world stage. Lim remains the most visible example, but he is far from alone. Pianist Seong-jin Cho continues to captivate global audiences, and a younger generation is quickly emerging. In October, 15-year-old violinist Kim Hyun-seo won third prize at the Premio Paganini International Violin Competition in Italy, becoming the youngest laureate in the event’s history. Earlier this year, 18-year-old pianist Kim Sae-hyun earned top honors at the Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition in Paris.
The forum is open to the public. For details and registration, visit www.arko.or.kr.