Cellist Park Sang-hyeok Wins 2nd Place at the 'Krzysztof Penderecki Competition'

Cellist Park Sang-hyeok (19) ranked 2nd in the Krzysztof Penderecki Competition.

Cellist Park Sang-hyeok
[Photo by Kumho Cultural Foundation]

On the 4th, the Kumho Cultural Foundation announced that Park Sang-hyeok won 2nd place in the finals of the "4th Krzysztof Penderecki International Cello Competition" held on the 3rd (local time) in Krakow, Poland. Park will receive a prize of 40,000 zlotys (approximately 13.09 million KRW).

The Krzysztof Penderecki Competition is an international contest named after Krzysztof Penderecki (1933?2020), a world-renowned contemporary music composer and conductor from Poland. It was established in 2008 by the Krakow Academy of Music, where Penderecki served as president, and is held every five years.

Penderecki had a deep connection with Korea, having been commissioned by the Korean government in 1991 to compose Symphony No. 5 "KOREA" in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of liberation. Past Korean winners of the competition include Hong Eun-seon (2nd place in 2013), Moon Woong-hwi (3rd place in 2013), and Choi Ha-young (1st place in 2018).

This year’s competition advanced 42 participants to the finals through preliminary screening. Four contestants advanced to the final round through the first round and semifinals.

In the final stage held at the Krakow Academy of Music Concert Hall, Park Sang-hyeok performed with the Sinfonietta Cracovia Orchestra (conducted by Katarzyna Tomala-Jedynak), playing Penderecki’s Viola Concerto (cello version) and Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major, Hob. VIIb/2.

The 1st place was awarded to Vilem Blech from the Czech Republic. 3rd place went to Maria Salvatori (Italy), and 4th place to Cyprien Lengagne (France/Switzerland).

Park Sang-hyeok debuted in 2019 with the Kumho Young Artist Concert and gained international recognition by winning 3rd place in the cello category at the Tchaikovsky International Competition this past June. He completed masterclasses and concerts at the Kronberg Academy in Germany, was a full scholarship recipient at the Liechtenstein International Music Academy, and was selected as the grand prize winner of the Shinhan Music Award. He is currently studying under Lee Kang-ho, Jang Hyung-won, and Tsutsumi Tsuyoshi at the Korea National University of Arts.