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The world-renowned violin competition, the Ysaÿe International Music Competition, will hold its finals in South Korea for the first time. The competition was founded in 2018 to honor the achievements and musical philosophy of Eugène Ysaÿe, a violinist and composer.
Elena Lavrenov, the general director, said at a press conference held on the 7th at the Rodea Art Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, "Since a significant portion of participants come from Asia, we pursued a plan to hold the finals outside Belgium." She added, "We found the best partner in South Korea and have opened our first overseas finals." The competition finals will be held from the 10th to the 11th at the Icheon Arts Center in Gyeonggi Province. The Korean staging was driven by Namkara, principal of the Korea International School of the Arts (KISA), who served as a competition judge last year. The organizers plan to hold the finals biennially, alternating between South Korea and Liège, Belgium, starting next year.
Among this year's finalists, the proportion of Asian artists is overwhelmingly large. Of the eight finalists in the junior division, seven are from South Korea, China, and Taiwan, with the exception of one U.S. national, and in the senior division, seven of the 12 are of Asian nationality. Three contestants from South Korea reached the finals — one junior and two seniors. A total of 121 participants from 23 countries worldwide entered the competition, of whom 20 advanced to the finals stage.
The organizers explained that the Korean staging also carries significance for cultural exchange. They said that holding a European international competition in South Korea will provide an opportunity for young violinists at home and abroad to interact with one another and gain international stage experience. Joel Smirnoff, chairman of the jury, said, "Korean performers are digesting the classical repertoire with remarkable passion and diligence," adding, "Now is the time for classical music to learn from the East as well." Judges include violinist Stefan Jackiw, violist Choi Eun-sik, and competition artistic director Ashot Khachatourian.
Unlike previous editions, this year's finals introduce orchestral collaboration for the first time. While the finals had previously centered on concertos with piano accompaniment and unaccompanied sonatas, this year features stages performed with an actual orchestra. During the competition period, various side events will be held, including master classes, an exhibition of the famed Stradivarius instruments, and a gala concert of prizewinners.
