Belgian Ysaÿe Violin Competition Finals Come to Korea Through Collaboration of Korean and Belgian Artistic Couples
Creatrip Team
18 days ago
The finals of the Ysaÿe International Violin Competition, founded in Liège in 2018 to honor Belgian violinist-composer Eugène Ysaÿe, will be held in Icheon, Korea on May 10–11 (Icheon Art Hall). The event was secured through close cooperation between two artistic couples: director Elena Labrenov (head director) and artistic director/pianist Ashot Khachaturian from Belgium, and Nam Kara (principal of Korea International Arts School) with conductor and co-founder Jo Jung-hyun from Korea. The Korean hosts began exchanges when Nam Kara served as a juror last year, which led to a joint project including an orchestra-concerto round conducted by Jo. The competition emphasizes musical depth and interpretation over pure technique. This year 121 applicants from 23 countries entered; 8 juniors (under 14) and 12 seniors (under 34) reached the finals, including three Koreans: junior I Se-na (11) and seniors Kim A-in (15) and Lim Hae-won (22). The finals will remain in Korea through next year, then switch to a biennial rotation with Belgium from 2028. (Ysaÿe: a celebrated Belgian violinist and composer)
