Pianist Seonyul Wins Gina Bachauer Piano Competition

Recital at Seoul Arts Center on the 19th

Pianist Seonyul (23) won the 2024 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition held in Salt Lake City, USA, the agency The Bridge Company announced on the 1st (local time).

Seonyul also received the Audience Prize and the Student Jury Prize. She was awarded a prize money of $50,000 and secured opportunities such as a performance in New York City, a collaboration with the Utah Symphony Orchestra, and an album release as part of her winnings.

In the final round of the competition, Seonyul performed Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in the first round and Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 in the second round, earning her the honor.

Pianist Seonyul [Photo by The Bridge Company]

The Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition was first held in 1976. Along with the Cleveland International Piano Competition and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, it is considered one of the three major piano competitions in the United States.

Last year, Seonyul placed second and won the Audience Prize at the Viseu International Piano Competition in Portugal, and took third place at the Isang Yun International Music Competition.

Seonyul graduated from Yewon School and, while attending Seoul Arts High School, was admitted to Korea National University of Arts through the gifted arts selection program. After graduating from K-Arts, she has been studying music in France since 2022. She graduated from the Schola Cantorum de Paris in 2023 and is currently enrolled at the ?cole Normale de Musique de Paris. She studies under Professors Yoon Yoo-jin, Kim Dae-jin, and Olivier Gardon, and currently receives artistic support from the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-koo Foundation. She has formed the 'Harang Duo' with fellow pianist Bae Jaesung, performing for audiences as a duo.

Seonyul is scheduled to hold a solo recital at the Recital Hall of the Seoul Arts Center on the 19th.