By Kim Ji-soo
Staff reporter
A 26-year-old South Korean double bassist was awarded the silver medal at the inaugural Bradetich Foundation International Double Bass Solo Competition.
Daegu native Kim Nam-gyun took second place, winning $5,000 in cash. The event was held Sunday at the University of North Texas (UNT).
Artem Chirkov of Russia came first, taking home $10,000 and a New York debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. Rex Surany of the United States won the $2,500 third-place prize.
The top three prizewinners also earned CD recordings and distribution deals, concerts and master class engagements throughout the U.S. and abroad, as well as four years of career development.
Tian Yang Liu, a UNT student pursuing an artist certificate and master’s degree, got an honorable mention and was named the favorite of the voting audience.
Kim is currently pursuing a Meister Klasse at the Hochschule for Music in Munich. He is studying with Heinrich Braun at the institute. He has been invited to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic, Frankfurter Symphony and Stuttgart Philharmonic to name a few.
The competition began on June 16 with performances from the 20 finalists from across the world. After two days of preliminary rounds, judges chose nine semi-finalists on June 17. Four finalists were named on June 18.
The Bradetich Foundation was established in 2008 with the sole purpose of advancing the performing, teaching and knowledge of the double bass. It represents the vision of founder Jeff Bradetich and the culmination of his 30 years of service to the profession.