Young performers from Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation's prodigy program have won consecutive accolades at European international competitions. Pianist Son Se-hyuk won the piano division at the Prague Spring International Music Competition in the Czech Republic, while tubist Kang Byung-ho took third place in the tuba division at Germany's Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition.
Son claimed victory at the final round of the 77th Prague Spring International Music Competition on the 14th. Launched in 1947, the competition is a longstanding event held as part of the Prague Spring International Music Festival. Open to musicians aged 30 and under, it alternates between two instrumental divisions each year.
This year's piano division saw 42 contestants advance to the main rounds after preliminary screening. Son was among three finalists who progressed through the first and second rounds. He performed Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 with the Prague Symphony Orchestra to take the top prize.
Along with the championship, Son received three special awards: the Viktor Kalabis & Zuzana Růžičková Prize, the City of Prague Prize, and the Bärenreiter Prize. The prize money is 250,000 koruna (approximately 17.91 million won), and he also earned an invitation to perform at the 2027 Prague Spring International Music Festival. Second place went to Zhiquan Wang of China, and third place to Xuehong Chen of China.
Born in 2008, Son made his debut through the Kumho Prodigy Concert in 2021. He distinguished himself by winning the grand prize at the Henle Piano Competition, first place at the Korea Liszt Competition, and first place at the Suri Music Competition, and received the Best Performance of a Romantic Work award at the 2022 Young Tchaikovsky International Music Competition. While attending Yewon School, he studied abroad at the Yehudi Menuhin School in the United Kingdom, and currently studies under Fabio Bidini and Kim Jong-yoon at the Colburn School in the United States.
On the same day, at the final round of the 2026 Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition, Kang took third place by performing Jan Koetsier's "Concertino for Tuba and String Orchestra, Op. 77" with the Clara Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra Plauen-Zwickau.
Kang received prize money of 3,500 euros (approximately 6.10 million won). "This competition is like a dream stage for tuba players on the international scene," he said. "I was happy just to perform the pieces I had prepared, and I will strive to become an even better performer." First place went to Diego Stein of the United States, and second place to Igor Martinez of Venezuela.
Born in 2003, Kang made his debut through the Kumho Prodigy Concert in 2019, and has won prizes at major domestic competitions including second place at the Jeju International Brass Competition and first place at the Woohyun Music Competition. After graduating at the top of his class from Seoul Arts High School, he moved to Germany and currently studies at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media. He continues to perform as a soloist and guest player with various orchestras, including the Norddeutsche Philharmonie Rostock.
