The ISANGYUN Competition has been presented by the Tongyeong International Music Foundation since 2003. It is held in remembrance of Isang Yun (1917-1995), the renowned Korean composer, by promoting cultural exchanges among nations through music, and by supporting talented young musicians from all over the world. The Competition is held annually in November, alternating between the disciplines Cello, Piano and Violin. After Cello competition this year, Piano will be held in 2023 and Violin in 2024.
Application rules:
The ISANGYUN Competition is open to cellists of all nationalities, born between November 1, 1991 and October 31, 2007.
Applicants must submit an online application form including all types of documents on the competition’s official website (www.isangyuncompetition.org) by the application deadline, July 31, 2022.
1) Online application form
– Required info: Personal information, education, teachers, prizes, and repertoire of each round
2) Two recommendation letters from musical authorities familiar with the applicant’s achievement, including one from a recent or current teacher of the applicant. Letters should be in English or Korean, or should include English or Korean translations.
3) A scan of the applicant’s passport
4) A photograph of the applicant in JPG or TIFF format (no less than 1MB)
5) High-quality video recordings with the repertoire of the Preliminary Round
– All works must be recorded with no audio or visual editing.
– Tutti cuts are acceptable in all works.
– The date and place of recording must be written on the application form.
– Each required piece should be on a single track and recordings must have been produced
after May 1, 2021.
– The repertoire for the Preliminary Round is as follows (25-30 minutes).
Participation fee:
Applicants who have been selected to participate in the First Round of the Competition are required to submit a non-refundable entry fee of KRW 200,000 by September 2, 2022. The fee can be paid online by credit card or by international bank transfer to the following account:
Bank: Nonghyup Bank
Bank Branch: Tongyeong Branch, 11 Hangnam 3-gil, Tongyeong
Account Number: 301 0143 2109 61
Swift Code: NACF KRSE XXX
Account Holder: TIMF
Payment of the entry fee will be considered the conclusion of a formal agreement between the participant and the competition regarding his/her participation in the Competition under the rules and conditions of the ISANGYUN Competition.
Awards:
First Prize KRW 30,000,000
Second Prize KRW 20,000,000
Third Prize KRW 10,000,000
Isang Yun Special Prize KRW 10,000,000
Seong-Yawng Park Special Prize KRW 2,000,000
UNESCO City of Music Special Prize KRW 2,000,000
Repertoire:
Preliminary Round (25-30 minutes, video selection)
Applicants must submit the video recordings of a) and b): a) One work of the following pieces at free choice:
J. Haydn Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major Hob. VIIb/1, 1st movement including cadenza
J. Haydn Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major Hob. VIIb/2, 1st movement including cadenza
L. Boccherini Cello Concerto No. 9 in B-flat major, G. 482, 1st movement including cadenza
b) One work of the applicant’s choice (or several works within the time limit above)
First round (Solo)
Each competitor will be required to perform a), b), and c) :
a) Prelude and Sarabande from one of the following Suites for Cello Solo:
J. S. Bach No. 3/ BWV 1009, No. 4/ BWV 1010, No. 5/ BWV 1011 or No. 6/ BWV 1012
b) One of the following solo works:
Z. Kodály The 3rd movement of Sonata for Cello Solo, Op. 8 (1915)
P. Hindemith Sonata for Cello Solo, Op. 25 No. 3 (1923)
G. Ligeti. Sonata for Cello Solo (1948/53)
B. Britten. The 7th, 8th and 9th movements of Suite for Cello Solo No. 1, Op. 72 (1964)
I. Xenakis. Kottos for Cello Solo (1977)
H. Dutilleux Trois Strophes sur le Nom de Sacher for Cello Solo (1976/82)
K.Penderecki Divertimento for Cello Solo (1994)
G. Cassadó Suite for Cello Solo
c) Isang Yun “Parlando” and “Burlesque” from Seven Etudes for Cello Solo (1993)
Second round (45-50 minutes, with Piano)
Each competitor will be required to perform a), b) and c) with Piano:
a) Isang Yun Nore for Cello and Piano (1964)
b) One of the following sonatas, complete:
L. v. Beethoven
– Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 4 in C major, Op. 102 No. 1
– Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 5 in D major, Op. 102 No. 2
J. Brahms
– Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38
– Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 2 in F major, Op. 99
c) All or part of one of the following works, depending on duration:
F. Schubert Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano in A minor, D. 821
F. Mendelssohn Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 2 in D major, Op. 58
R. Schumann Adagio and Allegro for Cello and Piano in A-flat major, Op. 70
R. Schumann Fünf Stücke im Volkston for Cello and Piano, Op. 102
C. Debussy Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor, L. 135 (1915)
D. Shostakovich Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor, Op. 40 (1934)
S. Prokofiev Sonata for Cello and Piano in C major, Op. 119 (1949)
Final round:
Each finalist shall perform one concerto with orchestra to be chosen from the following:
R. Schumann Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129
A. Dvořák. Cello Concerto No. 2 in B minor, Op. 104
P. I. Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme in A major, Op. 33
D. Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 107
Isang Yun Concerto for Cello and Orchestra (1976)