Genoa: South Korean violinist Kim Hyun-seo, aged 15, has secured the third position at the prestigious Premio Paganini international violin competition in Italy, marking her as the youngest finalist at this esteemed event.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim achieved third prize at the 58th iteration of the Premio Paganini competition, which was hosted in Genoa from October 14 to 26. This accomplishment was reported by the competition's official website and the Kumho Cultural Foundation. In addition to her third-place finish, Kim was awarded the Mario Ruminelli prize, which is given to the finalist who receives the highest number of public votes, and the Enrico Costa memorial prize, awarded to the youngest finalist.
Kim Hyun-seo began her journey with the violin at the tender age of three. Her burgeoning talent was previously recognized when she won second prize at the Gian Battista Viotti international music competition last year. The Premio Paganini competition, established in 1954 to honor the legacy of Italian virtuoso Niccolo Paganini, is a significant event in the classical music world, held biennially. Notably, South Korean violinist Yang In-mo previously won first place in this competition in 2015.