Dear friends
It is my great pleasure and honour to welcome you to the Second Edition of the ‘Korean Piano Open’ International Competition, which will take place from the 16th to the 19th of August 2023 at the beautiful campus of the Chugye University for the Arts in Seoul.
The goal of the competition is to discover new and emerging pianistic talent, to give an opportunity to young pianists of all nationalities to present not only their interpretive ideas, technical freedom and artistic expression, but, above all, to show their unique musical personalities.
As a part of a series of 14 international piano competitions throughout the world, the ‘Korean Piano Open’ competition is a platform for participants to also take part in the ‘Classic Piano’ Dubai International Piano Competition 2024 , as the top five ranked contestants will be invited to compete in Dubai, UAE, free of charge and with paid accommodation, for an outstanding prize fund of €250,000. More information can be found at www.14waystodubai.com
My very special gratitude goes to the Chugye University for the Arts and personally to the President of the University, Dr Im Sanghyuk, for hosting the competition, and to the President of ‘Korean Piano Open' International Competition, Mr Konstantin Iskhkanov, for making this possible.
I wish a wonderful time to the members of the jury, good luck to all participants and WELCOME TO SEOUL 2023.
Haeyoung KIM,
Artistic director, Emeritus Professor
Chugye University for the Arts.
Dear friends!
On behalf of all of us at CMDI Group, I am very pleased to welcome you all to the Second Edition of the Korean Piano Open which shall be held in the South Korean capital of Seoul between the 16th and 19th of August 2023.
CMDI has always worked to support and promote talented young artists so as to foster their growth and help them reach the next stage of their professional careers. We have always believed that large-scale competitions are one of the best avenues to help musicians achieve the global recognition and exposure they deserve, and, following the success of the inaugural edition of this contest back in 2021, we are thrilled to see it return for a second time.
Moreover, the 2023 Korean Piano Open also forms part of the ’14 Ways to Dubai’ initiative, a two-year project consisting of 14 international piano competitions held around the globe, with the five top-ranked participants in each event being invited to compete at the third edition of the ‘Classic Piano’ International Competition which will be held in Dubai, UAE, in 2024. This means that success in this competition will not merely lead to plaudits in its own right, but also provide the opportunity for the pianists to achieve even bigger milestones, as they go head-to-head with other champions in Dubai.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chugye University for the Arts in Seoul, who have graciously offered to host the competition on their beautiful premises, as well as my good friend, Haeyoung Kim, who in her role as Artistic Director, has been absolutely instrumental in making sure that everything keeps on flowing smoothly.
Lastly, I wish to mention our esteemed jury members, whose professionalism and commitment to the young generation of pianists is truly unmatched. Collectively, this board represents some of the brightest stars in the international piano world, and I am honoured that they have chosen to join us here.
May this experience prove to be a memorable and enjoyable one for all, especially our participants, regardless of where they will ultimately rank. This competition aims to provide an effective platform for you to not only showcase your technique, skills and professionalism, but also your personality and knowledge when interpreting the compositions you will be performing. I urge you all to make the most of this opportunity and take as much from it as you can to aid you in your musical journeys.
Good luck and success to all, and may you all have an unforgettable time in Seoul!
With best regards and respect,
Mr. Konstantin Ishkhanov,
President of “Korean Piano Open” International Piano Competition