Dublin International Piano Competition 2018 announces Sae Yoon Chon (22) from South Korea as the winner of this year’s prestigious competition

Following an intense competition over 11 days the 11th Dublin International Piano Competition tonight announced Sae Yoon Chon from South Korea as the winner of the overall competition. Competition Patron President Michael D.Higgins presented Chon with his prize onstage at the National Concert Hall where the four finalists performed concertos with the National Symphony Orchestra. As well as receiving a €15,000 prize fund, a prestigious list of engagements is secured for Chon including début concerts in London and New York as well as appearances at international festivals and concerti with leading orchestras.

Artistic Director John O’Conor said that the entire jury were impressed with the standard displayed by all the competitors. “This year was the highest entry in the history of the competition and it was heartening to see so many young entrants. What’s also heartening is the tremendous voluntary input, which has strengthened over the years, by what is now the big family of the Dublin International Piano Competition.”

The President also presented 20 year old Eoín Fleming from Templeogue, Dublin, one of the youngest competitors with The Charles J. Brennan Prize for highest placed Irish competitor.

Established in 1988 the competition takes place every three years and now ranks among the most important piano competitions in the world. A total of 55 talented pianists participated from 22 different countries – Brazil, Canada, China, Georgia, Croatia, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.
Chaired by Artistic Director John O’Conor, the competition is adjudicated by distinguished members of the music profession from around the world: Zelma Bodzin – USA, Hyoung-Joon Chang- Korea, Fumiko Eguchi – Japan, Finghin Collins-Ireland, Christopher Elton -United Kingdom, Mary Lennon- Ireland, Antti Siirala-Finland, Jan Jiracek von Armin- Germany, Robert Weirich-USA, Dan Zhao-Yi-P.R. China.

For aspiring young musicians setting out on a career as a concert pianist, money is vital for study, travel to the best teachers and access to the best pianos. The Dublin International Piano Competition gives winners the priceless service of a string of prestigious concert engagements in the leading concert venues of the world. The prime feature of the 1st prize is the promotion of debut recitals in the Wigmore Hall, London, Carnegie Hall, New York, the Steinway Prizewinner Concerts in Gewandhaus in Leipzig (among others) and the National Concert Hall, Dublin. These concerts, attended by artists’ managers, agents and press, have enabled previous winners to launch successful careers.

The DIPC also offer the unquantifiable service of management and support in steering each winner towards finding an agent and networking effectively to build a career as a concert pianist.

All four finalists’ performances will be available to stream on rte.ie/culture and rte.ie/player as well as on Arte Concert.