‘BIEK Global Arts Week 2026’ International Piano Competition Concludes Successfully
Event organiser BIEK presents a new model for international music education
Winners including Kim Tae-gyu demonstrate promise as the next generation of pianists
[Herald Economy – Reporter Lee Hong-seok]
Ji Hyun-gyu, a student at the New England Conservatory in the United States, won the Grand Prize at the ‘RNCM Seoul International Piano Competition 2026’.
Ji Hyun-gyu, a student at the New England Conservatory in the United States, has demonstrated his potential as one of the next generation of pianists by winning the prestigious Grand Prize at the ‘RNCM Seoul International Piano Competition 2026’.
The international piano competition was hosted by BIEK (co-representatives Henry Aronsson and Choi Joseph) and organised by About Classic Group Co., Ltd. (CEO Lee Dong-hyuk), in collaboration with the UK’s Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). It was held as the centrepiece of ‘BIEK Global Art Week 2026’, which took place in Seoul from 27 July to 1 August.
Throughout the event, participants ranging from primary school pupils from across Korea to university students studying both in Korea and overseas competed through preliminary and final rounds.
Following the judging, Ji Hyun-gyu was awarded the Grand Prize, while Kim Tae-gyu of Seoul Arts High School received the second-highest award, with both recognised for their outstanding musicianship and performance abilities.
Professor Graham Scott, Head of Keyboard Studies at the RNCM and Chair of the judging panel, said: “The standard of the Korean participants exceeded our expectations. Grand Prize winner Ji Hyun-gyu is a performer with exceptional musical instincts and a strong technical foundation, and his artistic insight into the repertoire and ability to communicate it were particularly impressive.”
A defining feature of the competition was that it went beyond simply competing for prizes, connecting the competition directly with international education and opportunities for further study.
Prize winners and students who successfully passed the RNCM admissions audition are provided with official recommendations from members of the RNCM faculty.
Outstanding students are also offered Conditional Offers for admission in the 2027 academic year.
Through this arrangement, Korean students are able to pursue opportunities to study at a world-renowned music institution without having to travel to the UK for the initial audition process.
At the Winners’ Gala Concert held on the final day of the event, Ji Hyun-gyu and the first-prize winners from each category took to the stage to showcase their abilities, receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Event organisers and prize-winning participants pose for a commemorative photograph.
The organisers explained that an important aim was to continue providing performance opportunities after the competition itself, allowing participants to gain valuable practical experience and supporting their continued artistic development.
The programme also included masterclasses and faculty recitals by Professor Graham Scott, Head of Keyboard Studies at the RNCM, and pianist Professor Simon Callaghan.
The masterclasses attracted particular attention by giving students the opportunity to experience the RNCM’s educational philosophy and approach to musical interpretation first-hand.
The faculty recital was especially successful, selling out completely and attracting considerable interest from participating students and classical music enthusiasts.
The concert featured leading performers from both the UK and Korea, including RNCM professors Graham Scott and Simon Callaghan, together with RNCM alumni Professor Yoo Jae-kyung and Professor Kim Yoon-ji. Their high-level performances made the concert a special demonstration, through music, of the value of international cultural and artistic exchange.
Professor Simon Callaghan said: “What impressed me about the Korean students was not only their outstanding ability, but also their enthusiasm for learning. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with BIEK and supporting Korean students in reaching the international stage through an even wider range of educational programmes and performances.”
BIEK, which hosted the event, said that the programme had presented a new model for international music education by bringing together international competition, education, performance, assessment, international exchange and pathways to further study within a single platform.
For ‘BIEK Global Art Week 2027’, BIEK plans to expand the programme beyond piano to include violin and vocal categories, while also developing scholarship initiatives to provide international educational opportunities to a greater number of students.
BIEK is currently pursuing the establishment of British international schools in Korea and is also considering the establishment of an RNCM campus in Korea.
In particular, the hosting of this event has been recognised as an example of BIEK’s broader efforts to develop international education initiatives connecting Korea and the United Kingdom.
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