Classical competition JoongAng Music Concours opens applications for 50th round

The final rounds are set to take place in March. It welcomes performers in five categories: piano, violin, cello, clarinet, voice and composition.

A performer competes in the violin category of the JoongAng Music Concours last year at Mapo Art Center in Mapo District, western Seoul. [JOONGANG PHOTOS]

JoongAng Music Concours is returning this spring for its 50th year.

Opening its sign-up applications on Tuesday, the classical competition is one of the oldest in Korea, having produced now-prominent musicians like soprano Sumi Jo in 1983, musical theater performer Kim So-hyun in 1996 and pianist Lee Jin-sang in 2000.

The final rounds are set to take place in March. It welcomes performers in five categories: piano, violin, cello, clarinet, voice and composition.

Korea National University of Arts President Kim Dae-jin, 62, competed in JoongAng Music Concours in 1979 and described his experience as not one of an amateur competitor but of a "real performer."

"It was a competition where I had to play for almost an hour on stage," he told the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily. "It was a revolutionary attempt during the 1970s. You could say that it was the seed for the current success that Korean performers are seeing today in international competitions."

Kim ranked first in the piano category. It was his first time competing in an event of such scale, and he later went on to garner global recognition, winning first place at the Cleveland International Piano Competition in 1985.

JoongAng Music Concours kicked off in 1975, in light of the 10th anniversary of the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper. A total of 778 young musicians have been awarded in the ceremony so far, including 217 first place winners.

It was also the first classical competition to air its final round live, in 2007. Since 2010, it has been selling hard copies of albums containing the performances of all those who competed in the finals.

First place receives 3 million won ($2,300), second 2 million won and third 1 million won.

Sign-ups run through 5 p.m. on Jan. 25 and are available online at concours.joins.com

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]