Pianist Lee Jae-yong [Kumho Culture Foundation]
Pianist Lee Jae-yong [Kumho Culture Foundation]

Pianist Lee Jae-yong, 17, has taken third place at the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in the United States.

According to the Kumho Culture Foundation and the competition organizers, Lee claimed third place in the Young Artists division of the 2026 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, which concluded Friday in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The placement earned Lee a prize of $5,000. First place in the division went to Ziyu Shao of China, while second place went to Eunha Basu of the United States.

The Young Artists division final, open to pianists aged 15 to 18, was held Friday at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City. Lee performed Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major in the final.

"I am very happy to have received an award at such a prestigious competition," Lee said. "I will use this moment as a stepping stone to strive for ever more sincere and authentic music."

Lee's result means South Korea swept both the Junior and Young Artists divisions of this year's Gina Bachauer competition. Earlier, pianist Lee Ju-eon, 13, also a Kumho Young Artist alumna, won first place and the gold medal in the Junior division (ages 11–14), which concluded June 20, taking home a $10,000 prize.

The Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition ranks among the most prominent international piano competitions in the United States, alongside the Van Cliburn. It was founded in 1976 to honor the legendary Greek pianist Gina Bachauer (1913–1976). The Gina Bachauer International Artists Foundation, which organizes the event, works closely with the Utah Symphony Orchestra and has long served as a launchpad for next-generation performers. The competition is divided into Senior (ages 19–32), Young Artists and Junior divisions and is held on a biennial cycle; this year featured the Young Artists and Junior divisions.

The competition has a particularly strong connection with Korean performers. Past Korean winners include Park Jae-hong (Young Artists division, 2016), Shin Chang-yong (Senior division, 2018) and Seon Yul (Senior division, 2024) — all of whom made their debuts through the Kumho Young Artist Concert series. This year's medalists Lee Jae-yong and Lee Ju-eon continue that lineage, again demonstrating the strength of the Kumho Young Artist program.

Lee made his domestic debut through the Kumho Young Artist Concert in 2025. After relocating to Taiwan in 2022 while enrolled at Yewon School, he expanded his international profile by winning first place at the Taiwan National Student Music Competition and first place at the Taipei Taiwan International Piano Competition. He currently studies under Kim Bo-kyung and Chiao-Han Liao and will enter the Juilliard School this fall.


shee@heraldcorp.com