Semi-Finalists Announced at the 2021 ISANGYUN Competition

Open to violinists born between November 1, 1990, and October 31, 2006, the competition's first prize winner will receive KRW 30,000,000 (USD $26,525)

For the semi-final round, competitors will perform either a Beethoven or Brahms complete sonata of their choosing, Isang Yun's "Gasa" (1963) or another Yun work written after 1960, plus work(s) of the competitor's choosing, accompanied by piano.

The semi-finalists are:

• Karisa Chiu (United States)
• Jueun Jeong (Korea)
• Nakyung Kong (Korea)
• Haram Kim (Korea)
• Daniel Kogan (Russia / Canada)
• Dongmin Lim (Korea)
• Haerim Oh (Korea)
• Dongyoung Jake Shim (Korea)
• Jingzhi Zhang (China)

Presented by the Tongyeong International Music Foundation since 2003, the ISANGYUN Competition is held in remembrance of renowned Korean composer Isang Yun (1917-1995) — with the aim of supporting emerging international soloists and the promotion of cultural exchange among nations.

Born in Tongyeong, Isang Yun was one of Korea’s foremost composers noted for his endeavors to bridge Asian and Western music cultures. His style combined lively sounds of Korean traditional music with many European techniques including 12-tone dodecaphony and numerous aspects of Western avant-garde experimentation.

The 2021 jury comprises Namyun Kim (Chairperson), Shmuel Ashkenasi, Choon Soo Chung, Boris Garlitsky, Lena Neudauer, Lucie Robert, David Schultheiss, Takashi Shimizu, and Tianwa Yang.

Held annually and alternating disciplines between piano, violin, and cello, the competition's previous first prize winners include violinists VC Young Artists Ji Won Song, Luke Hsu, and Yu-Chien Benny Tseng