Ji Hyun-gyu, a student at the New England Conservatory in the United States, takes the grand prize at the RNCM Seoul International Piano Competition 2026. [Provided by BIEK]
Ji Hyun-gyu, a student at the New England Conservatory in the United States, takes the grand prize at the RNCM Seoul International Piano Competition 2026. [Provided by BIEK]

Ji Hyun-gyu, a student at the New England Conservatory in the United States, claimed the grand prize at the RNCM Seoul International Piano Competition 2026, cementing his standing as a next-generation pianist.

The competition was organized by BIEK, led by co-directors Henry Aronson and Choi Yo-sep, and hosted by About Classic Group (CEO Lee Dong-hyuk). Held in partnership with the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in the United Kingdom, it served as the centerpiece of BIEK Global Art Week 2026, which ran in Seoul from July 27 to Aug. 1.

Over the course of the event, competitors ranging from elementary school students across the country to university students from Korea and abroad took part in preliminary and final rounds of intense competition.

Ji took the grand prize, while Kim Tae-gyu, a student at Seoul Arts High School, earned second prize — both recognized for their exceptional musicianship and technical command.

Graham Scott, head of piano at RNCM and chair of the jury, said the level of the Korean participants exceeded expectations. "Grand prize winner Ji Hyun-gyu is a performer with outstanding musical instinct and solid technique," Scott said. "His artistic insight into the works and his ability to communicate them were deeply impressive."

The competition stood apart from a conventional contest by linking international education and university admissions to the results.

Prize winners and those who pass the RNCM entrance audition will receive official letters of recommendation from RNCM faculty.

Outstanding students will also receive a conditional offer of admission for the 2027 academic year.

The arrangement allows Korean students to pursue entry to a world-class music institution without traveling to the United Kingdom.

At a gala concert held on the final day of the event, Ji and the first-place winners from each category took the stage to showcase their talents, drawing sustained applause from the audience.

Event organizers and prize-winning participants pose for a commemorative photo. [Provided by BIEK]
Event organizers and prize-winning participants pose for a commemorative photo. [Provided by BIEK]

The organizers said they placed particular value on providing performance opportunities even after the competition itself, helping participants gain real-stage experience and supporting their continued growth.

During the event, RNCM piano head Graham Scott and pianist Simon Callaghan, both professors at the college, led masterclasses and gave a faculty recital.

The recital drew attention for giving participants direct exposure to RNCM's educational philosophy and approach to musical interpretation.

The faculty recital sold out, drawing strong interest from participating students and classical music enthusiasts alike.

The concert featured top-tier performers from both the United Kingdom and Korea — including RNCM professors Graham Scott and Simon Callaghan, alongside RNCM alumni Yu Jae-gyeong and Kim Yun-ji — and was praised as a special occasion that demonstrated the value of international cultural and artistic exchange through music.

Callaghan said he was struck not only by the Korean students' skill but also by their passion for learning. "We will continue working with BIEK to support Korean students in reaching the international stage through a wider range of educational programs and performances," he said.

BIEK said the event presented a new model for international music education — one that brings together competition, education, performance, evaluation, international exchange and university admissions on a single platform.

For next year's BIEK Global Art Week 2027, BIEK plans to expand beyond piano to include violin and vocal categories, and to launch a scholarship program to give more students access to international education opportunities.

BIEK is also pursuing the establishment of a British-style international school in Korea and is exploring the possibility of opening an RNCM Korea campus.

The event is regarded as part of a broader international education initiative aimed at building bridges between Korea and the United Kingdom.


gilbert@heraldcorp.com