Another Korean musician has made her mark at the Queen Elisabeth Competition. Cellist Kim Tae-yeon, who just turned 20, finished second in the cello category, according to the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation and competition organizers Sunday. She performed in the final round with the Belgian National Orchestra conducted by Antony Hermus. Italy's Ettore Pagano took first place, while Leland Ko, representing the United States and Canada, finished third.
In the final, Kim performed "Four Odes to the News of Flowers" by Fang Man — a work commissioned for the competition — and Witold Lutosławski's Cello Concerto. After the award was announced, she said she had grown significantly through the month-long journey, calling the time spent sharing music with fellow finalists invaluable. The second-place prize carries a cash award of 20,000 euros (about $23,300).
The Queen Elisabeth Competition, which marks its 75th anniversary this year, ranks among the world's most prestigious classical music contests alongside the Chopin and Tchaikovsky competitions.
shee@heraldcorp.com
