Latest news with #SibeliusCompetition
Korea Herald
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Violinist Yang In-mo on freedom found in collaboration
Korean violinist reflects on his evolving artistry ahead of two concerts with Orchestre de la Suisse Romande under Jonathan Nott In his 20s, Korean violinist Yang In-mo made his mark with high-profile wins — from the Paganini Competition in 2015 to the Sibelius Competition in 2022. Back then, most of his time was spent in solitude, immersed in rigorous practice. More recently, however, the 29-year-old's career has entered a new phase of collaboration. Performing with orchestras around the world, he is having one of his busiest seasons yet, having played 16 concertos, including several contemporary premieres. 'In my 20s, most of my time was spent alone, practicing,' Yang said. 'Now, almost every week I collaborate with a different orchestra. That exchange is my greatest teacher now.' 'Building strong relationships with them, exploring more repertoire together, and deepening our musical connection — I think that's the greatest privilege of the career I have now," Yang said. As he prepares to perform the Sibelius and Mendelssohn violin concertos with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Korea in July, Yang reflects on a season of transformation — not just in repertoire, but in mindset. 'This was only the second time I have played with the OSR, but it felt like reconnecting with old friends. Some orchestras are distant, but OSR was open and warm. It allowed me to be completely free,' he said during a recent online interview. Yang joined the OSR on stage in Switzerland on May 8 for Sibelius' Violin Concerto. Reflecting on the performance afterward, the conductor remarked, 'Inmo is, of course, an exceptionally talented violinist but more importantly, he's a truly great musician. We were both smiling as the concerto came to a close.' That sense of freedom has become central to Yang's current musical philosophy. Having performed Sibelius' Violin Concerto nearly 20 times since winning the 2022 Sibelius Competition, his approach to the work has matured through both repetition and cultural immersion. 'Working with Finnish orchestras and musicians has changed how I view the piece,' Yang said. 'In Finland, I realized drama doesn't only come from human emotion. Nature has its own intensity. Silence, stillness, sudden shifts — these are part of the Finnish sensibility and Sibelius reflects that.' Instead of focusing solely on rhythmic clarity, as many conductors do with Sibelius' complex phrasing, OSR conductor Jonathan Nott encouraged Yang to shape long, lyrical lines. 'It was the first time I felt a conductor guide Sibelius horizontally rather than vertically,' Yang notes. 'At one point, he even sang the phrase to show me his vision. That's rare.' "He's a very musical, lyrical and horizontal conductor, someone who communicates his intentions clearly to the orchestra members, and he's also someone who truly respects and supports the soloist," he said. Yang's evolving relationship with music is not limited to Sibelius. For the upcoming July performance in Korea, he is also returning to Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto — a piece he last performed as a child. While often labeled as 'nice' or familiar, Yang is determined to explore its deeper, even radical layers. 'Mendelssohn's music can sound overly polite if you play it safe. But there's fire and risk beneath the surface, especially in the final movement. His tempo markings are absurdly fast," the Berlin-based violinist said, adding, "While living in Germany, I've come to see the works of German composers with fresh eyes, and in the case of Mendelssohn, beneath all the refinement, I sense something adventurous simmering underneath. I thought maybe it was time to try interpreting that in my own way, especially while performing in Korea.' For all his international engagements, Korea remains the most emotionally charged stage for him. 'I owe everything to my Korean fans,' he said. 'There was no one person who pulled me up — it was the support of people who believed in me after the competitions. When I play in Korea, I feel a responsibility to show them my best self.' Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, under the baton of Jonathan Nott, will present two distinct programs on July 5 and 6 at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul. On July 5, the orchestra will perform Debussy's "Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune" (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun) and Stravinsky's "Petrushka," with Yang joining as the soloist for Sibelius' Violin Concerto. On July 6, audiences can look forward to the Asian premiere of William Blank's "Morphosis for 42 instruments" alongside Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, with Yang once again as soloist. Ticket prices range from 50,000 won ($36.80) to 270,000 won. Meanwhile, OSR will embark on its Asia tour on July 3 in Beijing at the National Center for the Performing Arts before coming to Seoul. It will then head to Japan from July 8 to 13, touring five cities including Tokyo and Kyoto. gypark@
Korea Herald
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Park Sueye triumphs at International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition
The 25-year-old becomes second Korean violinist to win, after Yang In-mo's 2022 victory Three years after violinist Yang In-mo became the first Korean to win the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, fellow Korean virtuoso Park Sueye claimed the top prize at the competition's 13th edition, held in Helsinki on May 29. Founded in 1965 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius' birth, the competition is held every five years and is regarded as one of the most demanding and respected violin competitions in the world. Past winners include legendary figures such as Viktoria Mullova, Leonidas Kavakos and Sergey Khachatryan. Park is the second Korean to win the competition, following Yang In-mo's historic win in 2022. 'I'm incredibly happy to have won the Sibelius Competition,' the 25-year-old said after the announcement. 'It was a meaningful journey, and I'm so grateful that I was able to communicate my music through to the very end. It still feels surreal, but I'm grateful for everyone who rooted for me,' she said. While this is her first major win at an international competition, the young violinist has already carved out a distinct identity in the classical music world, with five critically acclaimed albums to her name. She released her debut recording, 'Paganini: 24 Caprices,' in November 2017 at the age of 16, becoming the youngest artist to record the complete set. In an interview with The Korea Herald in May 2023, Park reflected on her evolving identity as both a performer and educator. She described each of her albums not merely as recordings, but as personal milestones -- markers of growth at different stages in her life and career as well as a testament to her transformative musical journey. 'I'm not sure if I would try to record the complete Paganini again when I turn 35. But to be honest, when I listen to my first album, it's already very different,' she said. Her sixth album, a solo violin recording titled 'Exil!,' is set to be released in July by BIS Records. The album features Bartok's Sonata for Solo Violin, selections from Ysaye's Six Sonatas, and other technically demanding pieces. Two years ago, Park began to take her artistic practice beyond the stage. 'I guess I'm a polymath. I feel slightly happier when performing solo, but I have also changed through meeting many people. I'd also like to play in an ensemble and an orchestra, as well as teach,' Park told The Korea Herald. 'I learn a lot from teaching and performing in an orchestra once in a while. All of these experiences enhance my understanding of music.' A total of 40 violinists participated in the 13th International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition. Following the first and second rounds held from May 19 to May 25, six finalists, including Park, were selected. For the final round, Park performed Oliver Knussen's Violin Concerto Op. 30 with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Jean Sibelius's Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Her prize includes 30,000 euros ($34,000) in cash, upcoming engagements with Finland's top orchestras, mentorship under violinist Pekka Kuusisto and conductor-violinist John Storgards, and a one-year loan of the 1777 Guadagnini violin 'ex Sasson,' facilitated by Beare's International Violin Society. Second prize was awarded to Minami Yoshida from Japan and third prize to Claire Wells from the United States. This year's jury consisted of seven violinists, including Korea's own Lee Sung-ju and Cho Jin-joo, who served as Kumho Art Hall's artist-in-residence in 2015.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Violinist phenom from Palm Beach County competes in prestigious international competition
A youngster who thrived in the one of the county's original elementary strings orchestras more than a decade ago, is proving the value of that early education as he takes a worldwide stage as a distinguished violinist at the age of 24. Having a seat in Palm Beach Public's choice program for strings proved just the beginning for Matthew Hakkarainen, who has gone on to perform with famed conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, studied at elite arts and music institutions, and achieved distinction at top international violin competitions. But more opportunities await. Most immediately, beginning May 19, the 24-year-old Juilliard School graduate will compete in the prestigious International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in Helsinki, Finland. The competition, which is held every five years, is one of the "most important" in the world, said Hakkarainen in a recent interview with the Palm Beach Daily News. "The Sibelius Competition has been around for awhile," he said. "There have been a lot of great violinists who have won a prize at the competition and go on to make a great career. So it's special to be among the participants for this year's competition." Hakkarainen, who grew up in Palm Beach Gardens, began playing the violin when he was just 3. At Palm Beach Public, he honed his love for the violin under the guidance of program director Andrew Matzkow, who is now retired. "He did such a fabulous job," Hakkarainen said of Matzkow. "I did not realize until much later on how lucky I was to have music in school daily and to have a great program that got me playing all the time and helped build up our love for music. It's so great if you can get that from an early age, especially in school, because then you have it sort of built into your day. It becomes a normal thing to have your classes, but then you also practice, and you have rehearsal and you get to make music. It really just set me up on the right track." Hakkarainen continued his musical education at Bak Middle School of the Arts and Dreyfoos School of the Arts, where he further distinguished himself as a violinist. He performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City as an eighth-grader, and as a high school senior, won a $4,000 scholarship for music/instrumental at the 35th annual Pathfinder Scholarship Awards sponsored by the Palm Beach Post. Hakkarainen went on to attend the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and Juilliard before moving to Toronto to complete a Rebanks Family Fellowship at the Royal Conservatory of Music. He is set to complete his studies in May, and will immediately step into a new position as associate concertmaster with the renowned Toronto Symphony Orchestra. A concertmaster is the principal first violin player in an orchestra, and the associate typically acts as the second in command. Hakkarainen was offered the role after an audition, and he said he's thrilled at the opportunity to continue to advance his career. "Part of the reason why I'm excited to be joining them is I've always had a goal of having a leadership role in a great orchestra," he said. "One day I really hope to be a concertmaster at one of the great orchestras, and this is already an amazing step that I'm going to be an associate concertmaster here in Toronto." While Hakkarainen will continue to make Canada his home base, he expects to travel frequently for international competitions. Since 2023, he has entered competitions every few months, earning top-three finishes in France, Germany, and Poland. He also returns regularly to Palm Beach County, where his family, friends and former teachers remain. In January, Hakkarainen participated in the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach's inaugural rising artist program. The weeklong residency offered aspiring violinists, violists, and cellists aged 20 to 30 the chance to rehearse and perform alongside seasoned chamber musicians. It culminated in a performance at the Kravis Center's Rinker Playhouse. Hakkarainen said the program was "a lot of fun." "It was really cool to be going around and performing," he said. "We went to play at Dreyfoos, my old high school, and we went to play at the VA Medical Center, which is right near our house. It was sort of surreal to be basically retracing my steps as a kid, playing in all those places." In March, Hakkarainen returned home to play at Orchestra Delray, and in early May, he was back again — this time to play at Bak Middle School, where his former teacher and string director, Nancy Beebe, is retiring. "It's always special to be home," he said. Hakkarainen said he is grateful to his hometown community for giving him the chance to grow as a musician and pursue his dreams. "Looking back, I can see how fortunate I was to grow up in a place that has a love for the arts," he said. "Throughout my time in school, I was so fortunate to have it as a part of my life, and it's definitely a big reason why I am where I am now." Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County violin phenom competes in Helsinki, Finland
