Renowned Korean pianist Paik Hae-sun was appointed to the jury of the 2011 Cleveland International Piano Competition.

Paik was the first Korean to win third place at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1994 in which no first place was awarded. She has also won numerous prizes at major international piano competitions such as first prize at the William Kapell International Piano Competition in 1989, and top prizes at the 1990 Leeds International Pianoforte Competition and 1991 Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition.

Paik has released six albums with EMI Korea, the Korean branch of the leading British record company. She was professor at Seoul National University’s College of Music and is now chair professor at Catholic University of Daegu.

She also teaches at the Hartt School, a performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford in the U.S., and serves as artistic director for Busan Music Festival.

The Cleveland International Piano Competition, founded in 1975, is a biennial contest widely-recognized and respected among young musicians.

Finalists are given the opportunity to perform with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. The winner receives $50,000 and is guaranteed recitals with a two-year contract with the management.

Kim Dae-jin, a professor at Korea National University of Arts, was the winner of the competition in 1985.

This year, the Cleveland International Piano Competition selected 30 finalists out of 250 applicants. Five Koreans were included in the top 30. The competition will be held at Cleveland Play House from July 27 to Aug. 7.

By Yun Suh-young  (syun@heraldcorp.com)