Sehyun Kim Wins 1st Place at Cleveland International Youth Piano Competition

Audience Award and Youth Jury Award Winner
Received Prize Money of $10,000

Pianist Kim Sehyun (16) won first place in the senior division of the Cleveland International Youth Piano Competition in the United States, which concluded on the 15th.

Pianist Kim Sehyun. [Photo by Kumho Cultural Foundation]

According to the Kumho Cultural Foundation on the 16th, Kim Sehyun received first place at the competition's closing ceremony held on the 15th (local time) in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He was awarded a prize of $10,000 (approximately 12.9 million KRW).

The Cleveland International Youth Piano Competition is a youth competition hosted by the Cleveland International Piano Competition, which is for adults, and was established in 2003. It is held every 2 to 3 years, with the junior division for ages 11 to 14 and the senior division for ages 15 to 18.

This year's competition selected 32 finalists through a preliminary video screening. The first round was held with videos recorded at Steinway & Sons galleries in six cities worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, and Korea. Three finalists from each of the junior and senior divisions advanced to the final round, were invited to Cleveland, and performed on stage twice.

In the senior division, second place went to Yan Yan Bao (16) from China, and third place to Ryan Wang (15) from Canada. In the junior division, first place was awarded to Elisei Mishin (12) from Russia, with second and third places going to Qin Yao Yao Ji (13) and Zhonghua Wei (14) from China, respectively.

Past Korean winners include Shin Jiyeon (1st place in 2003), Lee Yejin (1st place in 2006), Baek Seoyoon (3rd place junior division in 2012), Park Jaehong (1st place junior division in 2015), Park Chaeyoung (3rd place senior division in 2015), Lim Yunchan (2nd place junior division in 2018), and Yang Jiwon (3rd place senior division in 2018).

Kim Sehyun debuted in 2018 with the Kumho Young Artist Concert. He has achieved excellent results in domestic and international competitions, including first place at the Morningside Music Bridge International Concerto Competition, first place at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School Concerto Competition, first place at the New York International Classical Music Competition, youngest second place at the Tchaikovsky International Online Piano Competition, and first place at the Ewha Kyunghyang Music Competition.

He graduated from Yewon School and completed the Seoul Arts Center Music Gifted Academy, studying under Shin Sujeong and Choi Youngmi. Currently, he is studying under Baek Hyeseon at Walnut Hill School for the Arts and the New England Conservatory Preparatory School in the United States.