Kumho supports Chopin competition winner Cho

Kumho Asiana Group Chairman Park Sam-koo, third from right, poses with Chopin competition winner Cho Seong-jin, center. Cho played with the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo, Friday. / Courtesy of Kumho Asiana Group

By Park Jin-hai

Kumho Asiana Group Chairman Park Sam-koo lavished praise on Cho Seong-jin, the first Korean winner of the annual Kumho Prodigy Concert Chopin competition.

“Cho’s achievement is a great phenomenon for the Korea arts circles,” Park said. “Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation will provide full support to help find more like him.”

Cho competed against 78 young pianists from 20 countries last month.

Cho made his debut at the 2005 Kumho Prodigy Concert when he was 11. The young prodigy also performed at the company’s concerts in 2006 and 2009.

In 2010, he joined Kumho Asiana Soloists, a chamber group made up of Korea's up-and-coming young musicians.

Cho played Chopin’s Concerto in E minor, Op. 11 with the NHK Symphony Orchestra for 40 minutes, bringing an enthusiastic response from the audience at NHK Hall, in Tokyo, Friday.

Since 1998, the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation has held the annual Kumho Prodigy Competition to find and support prodigies aged under 14.

So far over 1,200 young musicians have played in these concerts.