“There’s no sense of rivalry at all—I have nothing but deep respect for him.”
Kim Se-hyun, a rising star already in the spotlight after winning the 2023 Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists, is now drawing even greater attention after claiming first prize at the prestigious Long-Thibaud Competition. The event has launched the careers of pianists such as Lim Dong-hyek (2001 winner) and Lee Hyuk (2022 winner), and Kim’s victory there has fueled soaring expectations.
A former student at Yewon School, Kim moved to the United States and is currently pursuing a dual-degree program at Harvard University and the New England Conservatory of Music—a rare academic path. He is known for his unusually mature tastes: he reads poetry by Charles Baudelaire and Sylvia Plath and delves into James Joyce’s Ulysses in his free time, while also listening to Korean singers Kim Kwang-seok and Lee Moon-sae. “Literature and music are both tools for artists to express imagination and ideas,” Kim said. “That’s why I want to major in English literature at university.”
A new generation of Korean pianists following in the footsteps of Cho Seong-jin and Lim Yun-chan is quickly making its mark. While the global rise of young Korean musicians in piano and violin competitions is nothing new, three notable shifts have recently emerged.
First, the age of major prizewinners is getting noticeably younger. Following Kim’s victory at the Long-Thibaud Competition in March, Shin Young-ho, 18, took second place at the Dublin International Piano Competition in May. Pianist Hong Seok-young, also 18, won the 2023 Van Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition. All three were born in 2007, earning them the nickname “the next-generation trio.” Another standout is pianist Lee Jung-woo, 17, who won first prize at the Ettlingen International Competition for Young Pianists in Germany last year. In strings, 17-year-old violinist Kim Seo-hyun became the youngest winner in the history of the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition in 2023, while violinist Kim Hyun-seo, 15, earned second place at the Viotti International Music Competition. “These days, we’re seeing not only technical brilliance and musicality but also a surprising number of young players with clearly defined artistic worldviews,” said Shin Soo-jung, former dean of Seoul National University’s College of Music.
Second, as more prodigies emerge, they’re increasingly being invited to perform as soloists or concerto partners on professional stages. In addition to traditional stepping-stones like the Kumho Young Artist Concert Series, larger institutions such as the Seoul Arts Center and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra are also opening their doors. The Seoul Arts Center recently launched “Special: The Next,” a concert series at its 100-seat Inchun Art Hall featuring musicians in their teens and twenties. Scheduled performers include double bassist Yoo Si-heon (Aug. 14), violinist Kim Seo-hyun (Nov. 15), and violinist Lim Do-kyung (Nov. 20). This year, the Seoul Philharmonic has also collaborated with young talents in various programs—including its New Year’s Concert, Kids Concert, and Riverside Music Festival—featuring violinists Kim Seo-hyun and Kim Yeon-ah, 11; cellist Lee Jae-ri, 16; and trumpeter Lee Sang-wook, 15.
Finally, more young Korean artists are making moves onto the international stage. Kim Se-hyun recently signed a record deal with Warner Classics and is set to release his debut album next year. “I saw his performance at the Long-Thibaud Competition,” said Alain Lanceron, president of Warner Classics. “Despite being only 18, he showed remarkable maturity and originality.” Kim is scheduled to perform a solo recital in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Jul. 14 in celebration of Bastille Day and will also appear at the La Roque d’Anthéron International Piano Festival on Jul. 23.
Violinist Kim Seo-hyun, meanwhile, recently signed an exclusive contract with British classical music management agency HarrisonParrott. “With a steady stream of talent following Cho Seong-jin and Lim Yun-chan,” said Lee Ji-young, senior advisor at the Daewon Cultural Foundation, “a generational shift is clearly underway in Korea’s classical music scene.”
