Orchestra conductor Samuel Seungwon Lee wins Malko Competition 2024

Music & Performance

Published: 22 Apr. 2024, 15:46 Updated: 22 Apr. 2024, 16:31

Orchestra conductor Samuel Seungwon Lee wins Malko Competition 2024

Samuel Seungwon Lee during the final round of the Malko Competition 2024 on April 20 in Copenhagen, Denmark [MOK PRODUCTION]

Samuel Seungwon Lee becomes the first-ever Korean maestro to win the Malko Competition, an international competition for young conductors organized by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Samuel Seungwon Lee, 34, became the first Korean to win the Malko Competition this year, an international competition for young conductors organized by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra made the announcement on April 20 as soon as the final round came to an end in Copenhagen, Denmark. During the final round, Lee performed a special baroque version of the Haydn symphony "La Passione," which included a harpsichord accompaniment.

“Samuel has a fantastic way of phrasing the music, and he worked with the orchestra's sound in a very special way throughout the competition. That is why he wins the Malko Competition 2024,” said Fabio Luisi, the Danish National Symphony Orchestra's chief conductor and Malko Competition jury chairman, as he presented the first prize.

As the first prize winner, Lee was awarded 20,000 euros ($21,333) in prize money and conducting contracts with 24 leading international symphony orchestras. He also gained a three-year mentorship under the Danish National Symphony Orchestra's Luisi, the orchestra said in a press release.

Lee started off his music career with viola. He studied viola under Professor Tabea Zimmermann at Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler” Berlin, and orchestral conducting under Professor Christian Ehwald. He also completed a Konzertexamen in orchestral conducting at Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg under Professor Ulrich Windfuhr. Currently, he is an associate conductor at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Korean conductor Samuel Seungwon Lee [MOC PRODUCTION]

Culture Minister Yu In-chon on Monday wrote a congratulatory message for Lee regarding receiving the prestigious award.

"This feat serves as an opportunity to once again impress the world with how talented Korean musicians are in the field of classical music,” said Yu. "We pay tribute to Lee's great performance on the international stage and we expect this brilliant achievement will greatly contribute to the public's interest and affection for classical music.”

The Malko Competition is one of the most prestigious competitions for conductors. The orchestra founded the competition to commemorate its founding conductor Nicolai Malko, and it has been held every three years since 1965.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]