Recently, two talented teenagers from Korea gained attention in the world of classical music. These young performers shined at their respective international competitions, making great strides in their promising careers.
Park Youn-jae
In early February, a 16-year-old ballerino from Seoul made waves at the Prix de Lausanne* in Switzerland. Park Youn-jae received first place at the premier competition for teen ballet dancers.
In the past, Korean ballerinas topped the Prix de Lausanne in 1985 and 2007. However, Park is the first male ballet dancer from Korea to receive this honor.
The teenager impressed the judges by performing a scene from the classical ballet, ¡°Flames of Paris,¡± from the early 20th century. Then, he followed it up in the final round with his performance of a contemporary ballet piece titled ¡°Rain.¡±
The teen ballerino is currently attending Seoul Arts High School. However, he mentioned in a recent interview that he is debating whether to study abroad in the near future.
Han Jae-yoon
In late January, violist Han Jae-yoon took part in the Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competition* in Gateshead, the United Kingdom. The 15-year-old came in second place in the 18-and-under category of the event, which is recognized as the most important global competition for violists.
Additionally, Han received a special performance award for his exceptional rendition of songs by British composers and a sonata by Johannes Brahms.
Hailing from Wonju, Gangwon Province, Han first picked up the viola at the age of 10 and was quickly noticed for his talent. This year, he will enroll at the Korea National University of Arts,* becoming the youngest ever to do so.
The viola is a stringed instrument that is slightly larger than a violin and is known for having a darker, deeper tone.
* Prix de Lausanne ·ÎÀÜ ¹ß·¹ ÄáÄí¸£
* Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competition Å׸£Æ¼½º & ¾Æ¸£³ëºñÃ÷ ±¹Á¦ ºñ¿Ã¶ó ÄáÄí¸£
* Korea National University of Arts Çѱ¹¿¹¼úÁ¾ÇÕÇб³
Discussion Questions
What would it take to be a top classical musician or ballet dancer?