Conductor Jaehyuck Choi Wins Top Prize at Lliria International Conducting Competition in Spain

Choi Jaehyuk conducting Beethoven's overture 'Coriolan' on the final stage of the Lyria International Conducting Competition / Source: Lyria International Conducting Competition official Instagram

Conductor Jaehyuck Choi has claimed the top prize at an international conducting competition held in Spain. At the 3rd 'Lliria City of Music 2025' International Orchestra Conducting Competition, which took place in the city of Lliria, Spain, Choi was selected as the final winner on July 25 after fierce competition. In an official announcement, the organizing committee described Choi as "a promising newcomer who is making a mark in the international conducting scene," and stated that he demonstrated outstanding interpretative ability, musical insight, and potential for growth as a conductor while competing against 25 finalists from a total of 16 countries.

With this victory, Jaehyuck Choi has earned not only a cash prize but also the opportunity to collaborate with leading European orchestras, including Spain's ORTVE National Symphony Orchestra and the Valencia Symphony Orchestra. The competition was hosted by the Lliria City Hall and organized in cooperation with the Spanish Conductors Association (AESDO). In this competition, Vladimir Piskunov of Russia took second place, while Daniel Joseph of the United Kingdom received third prize.

The jury was chaired by Manuel Galduf, former principal conductor of the Valencia Orchestra, and the event drew attention for its panel of judges recognized for their expertise and authority. During the finals, participants conducted major works by Stravinsky, Elgar, and Mozart. In the final round, they demonstrated their skills by conducting the competition-commissioned new work 'Estructura I' by David Moliner, the first movement of H. Tomasi's Trombone Concerto, and Beethoven's overture 'Coriolan Op.62'.

Jaehyuck Choi is a conductor acclaimed for his wide-ranging interpretative abilities and delicate sensibility across both contemporary music and classical repertoire. After serving as a conducting fellow at the 2023 Verbier Festival, he was also selected as a Jaap van Zweden conducting fellow with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in 2025, further cementing his reputation. In addition, he was a finalist in associate conductor auditions for the Philadelphia Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Orchestre National d'Ile-de-France. As a composer, Choi also distinguished himself by becoming the youngest-ever winner in the composition category at the 2017 Geneva International Competition, and the following year, he made his official international debut by conducting the London Symphony Orchestra with Simon Rattle at the Lucerne Festival. Having studied at the Juilliard School and the Barenboim-Said Academy, Jaehyuck Choi is actively building a unique artistic world in both conducting and composition.