Shin Kim wins Concours de Genève Composition Competition

South Korean composer Shin Kim has been announced as the first prize-winner of this year’s Concours de Genvève Composition Final. Winners were announced following the competition final round which took place at the Geneva Conservatory yesterday evening (26 October) and was broadcast live on Espace 2.

Currently completing a master’s degree at the Korea University of the Arts in Seoul, Kim will receive a cash prize of 15,000 Swiss Francs (£13,102). The competition’s second prize of 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,734) was awarded to Japanese finalist Yuki Nakahashi and the third prize of 5,000 Swiss Francs (£4,367) went to Hungarian Ármin Cservenák.

(Left to right) First prize-winner Shin Kim, Yuki Nakahashi (second prize) and Ármin Cservenák (third prize) ©Anne-Laure Lechat

The three finalists’ compositions were performed by the Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart for a jury chaired by Swiss composer Beat Furrer, who said: ‘It was by no means easy to rank the outstanding works of Shin Kim, Yuki Nakahashi and Ármin Cservenák: the jury was confirmed in its conviction after last night's concert that all three young composers have equally high hopes for their future careers through the works presented.’

The jury also included composers Hans Abrahamsen from Denmark, Unsuk Chin from South Korea, Stefano Gervasoni from Italy and Isabel Mundry from Germany. They judged the three finalists’ scores, chosen by Furrer from a total 93 applications, all written for vocal ensembles comprising bass, baritone, tenor, mezzo-soprano (or counter-tenor) and two sopranos.

Further prizes awarded by bodies outside the jury included the Audience Prize of (1,500 Swiss Francs), awarded by the audience at the Final performance, which went to third prize-winner Cservenák and the Young Audience, Students and Nicati-De Luze Specia Prizes (with a combined value of 5,000 Swiss Francs) which went to second prize-winner Nakahashi.

The Concours de Genvève fulfils its aim of discovering, promoting and supporting young artists by offering a Support Program for laureates, including a professional training workshop, recordings, international performances and two years of management by the Sartory Artists agency.