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| ▲ This photo, provided by Kumho Cultural Foundation, shows pianist Suh Hyung-min. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korean pianist Suh Hyung-min, also known as Hans H. Suh, (31) has won the International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn 2021 in Germany, according to the Kumho Cultural Foundation on Monday.
In addition to winning first place, Suh was also awarded special prizes like "Best interpretation of a piece of Robert Schumann in the 2nd round," "Special prize for chamber music," and the "Best interpretation of a piano concerto in the final" on Dec. 11 (local time), according to the Kumho Cultural Foundation. The prize money for first place alone is 30,000 euros (about 40 million won).
As an additional grant, Suh received 2,000 euros (about 2.7 million won) worth of music, sponsored by German publishing house Bärenreiter, and an opportunity to perform on tours with orchestras worldwide.
Since 2005, the International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn, organized by German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom AG, has been held every two years in Bonn, the hometown of famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven. The competition is open to pianists from all nations who are over 18 and under 33.
Suh, who started learning piano at the age of 4, started composing when he was 5 and held his first solo concert two years later. The pianist played at the Kumho Prodigy Concert in 1998, went to the U.S. at the age of 10 and made his international debut in 2001 by performing with the New York Philharmonic orchestra after winning the New York Philharmonic's Teaching Artist audition.
The 33-year-old pianist won the 2018 International Piano Forum, the 2016 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium, the 2013 Sendai International Music Competition in Japan (second place), and the 2016 International ISANGYUN Competition.
Suh is currently studying at the Graduate School of Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media.
Other winners of the Beethoven Competition Bonn from Korea include Yoo Ian Yung-wook (2007 No. 1), Han Chi-ho (2011 No. 2), Ahn Soo-jung (2013 No. 1), Lee Ho-jeong (2017 No. 3), and Lee Shi-hyun (2019 No. 3).
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