Korean Harmonicist Serves as Judge at World Harmonica Championships
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
Yoon-seok Lee, a Korean harmonica player, served as a judge at the World Harmonica Championships held Oct 29–Nov 2 in Trossingen, Germany — the first in-person event since the pandemic. Hundreds of participants and audiences from about 30 countries attended. Lee was the first Korean appointed to judge the main chromatic harmonica adult solo category, evaluating both newly commissioned compulsory pieces and contestants’ chosen free pieces. He said it was an honor, especially to work alongside his teacher Sigmund Groven (그로븐). The international jury included masters from Norway, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Lee also performed in the gala concert “Asian Harmonica Variations,” presenting original harmonica repertoire and classical works by Mozart and Handel, and played a duet with Groven at the “Tommy Reilly Memorial Concert” commemorating the 25th anniversary of the legendary classical harmonica player Tommy Reilly. Lee expressed pride in continuing tradition and promoting the small but powerful harmonica worldwide.
