Saehyun Kim, 17 years old, won this year's Long-Thibaud piano competition. In the final round at the Opéra Comique, the young pianist faced four other competitors, all of Asian origin.
Saehyun Kim is a former student of the Lang Lang Foundation's young researchers program, and is currently studying at Harvard College and taking a master's degree at the new England Conservatory near Boston, where he lives. The winner of several international competitions, including the Junior Cliburn Competition, he has been performing on stage since the age of 10.
As part of his win, Kim will be invited to perform at the Concert de Paris, on July 14, 2025, at the Eiffel Tower, in front of an audience of 400,000 people.
The Piano Jury, composed of Mikail Rudy, François-René Duchable Tania Heidsieck, Hélène Mercier, Marina Bower, János Balazs, Ewa Poblocka, Marc Laforêt and Dominik Winterling, surprisingly did not award a 2nd Prize this year. Hyo Lee (brother of former LT winner Hyuk Lee), also aged 17, took 3rd Prize, while two 4th Prizes were awarded jointly to Masaharu Kambara and Tiankun Ma, leaving the audience with a feeling of incompleteness. 5th Prize went to Eric Guo.
The winners will soon perform at festivals including Opera de Monte Carlo, Piano à Aix-en Provence, Gstaad New Year Music Festival, Association Chopin de Lyon, Opéra Royal du Château de Versailles, among others.
First Prize Saehyun Kim receives his award
Laureates:
1st Prize: Saehyun Kim
2nd Prize: not awarded
3rd Prize: Hyo Lee
Audience Prize: Saehyun Kim
Jury:
Mikail Rudy, François-René Duchable Tania Heidsieck, Hélène Mercier, Marina Bower, János Balazs, Ewa Poblocka, Marc Laforêt and Dominik Winterling
Artists:
Orchestra of the Republican Guard; conductor Bastien Stil
Saehyun Kim, 17, easily convinces with his terrific interpretation of Rachmaninov's Concerto n°3.
At the 2025 Bach Competition Leipzig, three outstanding pianists bring the audience to their feet
From 3 to 9 March 2025, some of the most talented young musicians on the international music scene performed in Pinerolo and Turin, at the final round of the prestigious bi-annual chamber music competition.
5 out of 6 violinists played the Sibelius concerto, delighting an audience of connoisseurs who were happy to be able to compare every stroke, every intention, and ultimately the musicality of the talented young violinists.
