Korean pianist Lee Hyuk takes first place at Long-Thibaud International Competition

Korean pianist Lee Hyuk won the first prize at the Long-Thibaud International Competition held in France, along with Japanese pianist Kamei Masaya, according to its organizer.

The 22-year-old played Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in the final contest that closed at Chatelet Theater in Paris on Sunday.

Lee became the second Korean pianist honored at the prestigious classical music competition created in 1943, following Lim Dong-hyek in 2001.

He will receive a cash prize of 35,000 euros ($36,200) from the organizer.

Another South Korean finalist, Noh Hee-seong, finished fifth.

Born in Seoul in 2000, the prodigy began learning piano and violin at the age of 3 and has won numerous awards at international competitions.

Among them is the first prize at the Grand Prix Animato Chopin in 2021, the third prize at the Hamamatsu Piano Competition in 2018, and the first prize at the Paderewski International Piano Competition in 2016.

He entered Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 2016 and has been taking a temporary absence from school since February.

Yonhap