The Tongyeong International Music Foundation announced the winners of the 2019 Isang Yun Competition on Saturday, with pianist Lim Yun-chan taking the top honors.

The annual competition, held in homage to the late contemporary music composer Yun I-sang, alternates annually among cello, piano and violin. This year’s competition was for pianists, with violinists slated to compete next year.
 

After a final round in the competition Saturday, Lim was announced as the first prize winner, followed by Park Kyoung-sun and Kim Kang-tae in second and third place. Lim also won the UNESCO Creative City of Music Special Prize, given to the most popular artist as determined by an audience vote. The Isang Yun Special Prize, for a musician who performs a composition by the late composer exceptionally well, went to Ye Su-ah for “Interudium A.”

The winners were announced by a nine-member jury led by French pianist Michel Beroff and pianists from South Korea, Japan, Germany, Russia and more.

The winners delivered a gala concert Sunday at the Gyeongnam Culture and Art Center in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province. The repertoire consisted of compositions presented during the competition.

A total of 154 contenders from 19 countries applied for the competition this year, which started Oct. 27.

The Isang Yun Competition, launched in 2003, is organized by the Tongyeong International Music Foundation. The competition was the first in Korea to earn a World Federation of International Music Competitions trophy. It hosted the organization’s annual assembly in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, in 2014.

The foundation also organizes the Tongyeong International Music Festival every March, dedicated to the celebrated composer who was born in the city.

By Im Eun-byel (silverstar@heraldcorp.com)