The Korea Times
Cellist Kim Tae-yeon won second prize at the 2026 Queen Elisabeth Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious classical music contests in Brussels, Sunday. The 20-year-old was named runner-up during the final award ceremony held Saturday at the Bozar concert hall in Belgium's capital. Italy’s Ettore Pagano took first place, while Leland Ko of the United States and Canada finished third. Founded in 1937, the Queen Elisabeth Competition is widely regarded as one of the top three international music competitions, alongside the Chopin and Tchaikovsky competitions. It rotates annually among violin, voice, cello and piano disciplines, with this year dedicated to cello. Kim was among 64 finalists selected from 185 applicants worldwide, including five Koreans. Twelve advanced to the final round, held from Tuesday to Saturday, where they performed with the Belgian National Orchestra. As the youngest finalist, Kim took the stage last, performing Chinese American composer Fang Man’s commissioned work “Four Odes to the Tidings of Flowers” and Witold Lutoslawski’s Cello Concerto unde
Go to News Site