24 cellists will compete for the top prize of KRW30,000,000 (£16,000) plus numerous concert opportunities, from 1 to 9 November
The Isang Yun Competition has announced 24 cellists to participate in its 2025 edition, which will take place in Tongyeong Concert Hall, South Korea, from 1 to 9 November.
The competition is open to cellists of all nationalities between the ages of 15 and 30. Candidates were selected from a video submission round, which included mandatory performances of a Haydn concerto or Boccherini Cello Concerto no.9, plus free choice of repertoire within the 25-30-minute time limit.
The candidates are:
Seungyeon Baik, Korea
Andrew Ilhoon Byun, Canada
Taewoong Chae, Korea
Yewon Cho, Korea
A-Hyeon Choi, Korea
Hun Choi, Korea
Amy Goto, US
Seohyun Kang, Korea
Alex Lau, Hong Kong
Youbien Lee, Korea
Jeri Lee, Korea
Carson Ling-Efird, US
Samuel Niederhauser, Switzerland
Chase Park, US
Claire Park, US
Sieun Park, Korea
Alessandro Sacchetti, Italy
Elliot Sloss, Canada
Miriam K. Smith, US
Francesco Stefanelli, San Marino, Italy
Jakob Giovanni Taylor, US
Simon Tetzlaff, Germany
Wanxuan Wu, China
Amelia Zitoun, US, France
The competition will take place over three rounds covering solo, sonata and concerto repertoire. Finalists will have the chance to perform with the Tongyeong Festival Orchestra.
Competitiors will have the opportunity to win prizes from a total prize pool worth KRW79,000,000 (£42,100), with the first prize worth KRW30,000,000 (£16,000).
The first prizewinner will also receive the opportunity to perform at the Seoul Arts Center’s Symphony Festival, the Gangwon Cultural Foundation’s Pyeongchang Daegwallyeong Music Festival, and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization’s DMZ Open Festival, as well as chances to perform with the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra and the Gwangju Philharmonic Orchestra.
Special prizes will also be awarded to the best performance of Isang Yun’s Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, the most talented Korean contestant, plus the audience choice award.
This year’s jury is chaired by Arto Noras, and comprises Clive Greensmith, Louise Hopkins, Kim Du-min, Maria Kliegel, Lee Kang-ho, Andreas Vierziger, Jian Wang and Hiroyasu Yamamoto.
The first cello edition of the competition was held in 2003 and was won by Julie Albers. The competition takes place annually in rotating disciplines of piano, cello and violin. The 2022 cello edition was won by Korean cellist Jaemin Han.
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