▲ Music Director Lee Ha-neuli participates in a round interview for ‘Sync Next 26’ at the Artist Lounge of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on August 12.

20-year-old composer Lee Ha-neuli has won the composition category at the 80th Geneva International Music Competition, sweeping all six special prizes.

Local time on the 11th, at the competition finals held in Geneva, Switzerland, Lee claimed first place in the composition category with her work “Stuff #1,” performed by the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.

Lee also swept all six special prize categories, including the Audience Prize, Young Audience Prize, Student Prize, Nicati-de Luze Prize, Basel Sinfonietta Prize, and Primeurs Musicales Prize.

Jury Chairperson Chin Unsuk evaluated, “Lee Ha-neuli’s work ‘Stuff #1’ is technically brilliant, exceptionally beautiful, and possesses the capability to add color to any concert program,” adding, “Though young, she already displays remarkable talent and tremendous potential.”

The prize for winning the composition category is 15,000 Swiss francs (approx. 24 million won), and including the special prizes, Lee will receive a total of 26,500 Swiss francs (approx. 43 million won).

Lee passed through the Seoul Arts Center Gifted Academy and Yewon School, and is currently attending the Korea National University of Arts.

She won the Bartók World Competition in composition in 2024, and her works have been performed at the Witten Days for New Chamber Music in Germany, the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, and the Daegu International Contemporary Music Festival.

Pianist Lim Yunchan also performed a piece commissioned from Lee alongside Bach’s Goldberg Variations during his recital.

Established in 1939, the Geneva Competition is a world-renowned music competition. The composition category is held biennially, while categories such as piano, clarinet, flute, cello, viola, string quartet, and percussion alternate annually.

Previous South Korean winners in the composition category include Cho Kwang-ho (2013), Choi Jae-hyuk (2017), Son Hyun-jun (2019), Kim Shin (2022), and Yu Sang-min (2024). Winners in performance categories include cellist Chung Myung-wha (1971), pianist Moon Ji-young (2014), and percussionist Park Hye-ji (2019).

(Photo: Yonhap News)

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.