South Korea dominates the Concertino Praga 2025 finals. The youngest laureate in history is an eleven-year-old violinist.
Tension, joy, and brilliant performances – this was the atmosphere of the 59th edition of the international music competition for young musicians, Concertino Praga, held on September 12 and 13 in Prague.
The greatest success was achieved by two young performers from South Korea: oboist Raeun Hong and violinist Yeonah Kim.
Yeonah Kim made history as the youngest laureate ever – at just 11 years old she captivated both jury and audience with her performance of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. Raeun Hong impressed with a stunning interpretation of Julius Rietz’s Concert Piece for Oboe and Orchestra.
A Final Full of Talent and Emotion
Eight finalists, selected from 59 recordings across three continents, came to Prague to compete. In the wind instruments category, the finalists were Italian flutist Chantal Ramona Veit, Spanish saxophonist Víctor Amadeu Puigbò Rincón, Czech clarinetist Otakar Antonín Štefan, and winner Raeun Hong. They were accompanied by the Pardubice Chamber Philharmonic under chief conductor Vahan Mardirossian.
“With wind instruments, the personality of the soloist reveals itself very quickly – the way they breathe and phrase instantly tells you who is truly speaking to you. That ultimately decided the winner, even though every performance in Bethlehem Chapel was of an incredibly high level,” said jury chair, violinist Dmitry Sitkovetsky.
The following day, the competition moved to the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum, where the finalists in the keyboard and string instruments category performed with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tomáš Brauner. The competitors were Latvian pianist Matvejs Fokins, Bulgarian cellist Darin Lambrev, Czech accordionist Viktor Stocker, and the winner Yeonah Kim.
“Perfect technical mastery is a given in this competition. But what moved me most was the desire and ability of the finalists to truly communicate something to the audience. Tonight was a celebration of music in the best possible sense,” said jury member, cellist Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt.
Czech Achievements and Jury Prizes
The Czech Republic was represented by Otakar Antonín Štefan (clarinet) and Viktor Stocker (accordion). Stocker not only won 2nd prize but also received the Audience Award, the EMCY Prize, a scholarship, and several other distinctions from prestigious foundations.
What Lies Ahead for the Laureates
Both winners received a scholarship of €5,000 from the Karel Komárek Family Foundation and the Czech Radio Prize in the form of a professional CD recording. Other finalists were also awarded scholarships and special prizes.
But the musical journey does not end with the final. On September 15, the South Bohemian Concertino Praga Festival begins, with concerts in Písek, Bechyně, Tábor, and Jindřichův Hradec. The program will also feature a special children’s concert as part of Czech Radio’s Vlnohraní project.
Competition Results
Wind Instruments Category
1st prize: Raeun Hong (2009), oboe (South Korea)
2nd prize: Víctor Amadeu Puigbò Rincón (2007), saxophone (Spain)
3rd prize: Chantal Ramona Veit (2008), flute (Italy)
Honorable Mention, 1st degree: Otakar Antonín Štefan (2008), clarinet (Czech Republic)
Honorable Mention, 2nd degree: Levente Bubreg (2008), bassoon (Austria)
Audience Award: Otakar Antonín Štefan
Keyboard and String Instruments Category
1st prize: Yeonah Kim (2014), violin (South Korea)
2nd prize: Viktor Stocker (2009), accordion (Czech Republic)
3rd prize: Darin Lambrev (2010), cello (Bulgaria)
Honorable Mention, 1st degree: Matvejs Fokins (2010), piano (Latvia)
Honorable Mention, 2nd degree: Naďa Strnadová (2009), cello (Czech Republic)
Audience Award: Viktor Stocker
Special Prizes
- EMCY Prize: Viktor Stocker
- Karel Komárek Family Foundation Prize for the best Czech participant: Viktor Stocker
- Bohuslav Martinů Foundation Prize: Chantal Ramona Veit
- Viktor Kalabis & Zuzana Růžičková Foundation Prize: Matvejs Fokins
- Magdalena Kožená Foundation Prize: Viktor Stocker
