South Korea has been attracting a lot of attention to itself in recent years, especially with regard to the music scene. The Kpop is depopulating in every corner of the world but South Korea is not only Pop, many are the musical genres in which the country excels, but perhaps they are a little less in the spotlight than most.
An example among many is the love for classical music and especially for the piano. In these days the VIPC - Verona International Piano Competition - is taking place, which has always discovered the new young talents of the piano from all over the world.
We wanted to know more and thanks to the organizers of the event, and the Artistic Director Roberto Pegoraro, we found out a lot about the Korean Piano School.
From what Director Pegoraro explains for about 20 years the participation in this event by artists of Korean origin has increased exponentially, reaching the last edition 2021 with a third of the participants from South Korea.
Why did the number of Korean participants increase so dramatically?
"I have tried to research the reasons for this exploit in the innate, strong spirit of competition and in the rigorous discipline that underlies their study; but it is not enough." According to Director Pegoraro. "And how can we explain such a great love for Western musical culture, so distant from their tradition?" he continues.
Pegoraro also talks about how until a few years ago, music critics had always recognized in young Asian artists precision, technique but at the same time lack of interpretation and expression. This shortage has led young artists to attend important European schools to better understand the culture and tradition that surrounds Central European classical music.
"Another fact not to be underestimated: before 1990, in Korea, there were not many music teachers able to guarantee a high level of preparation."
It was only in 1993 that the Korean National University of Arts was founded, the same university frequented by director Shim Sung-bo and Kim Junmyeon (Suho of EXO) and many others, that the Korean government begins to focus heavily on education and culture in the field of art, music and entertainment investing heavily in the training of high-level artists.
This year the participants of Korean origin at the VIPC are:
Hee Jun Han - 26 years Da Young Kim – 34 years Hyunji Kim – 25 years Seolhwa Kim – 28 years Song-Ha Kim – 30 years Yeonwoo Park – 28 years Yeram Park – 25 years Jeong Hyun Yoon – 26 years
Tonight will be held the semi-final of the competition at the Palazzo della Gran Guardia in Verona where the three best pianists will be decreed.
The winner will receive 4,500 euros in cash and a recording contract worth 3,000 euros with the label Fluente Records for the recording, publication and distribution of a digital disc.
Thanks to the press office of VIPC
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