'Korean pianists excel in technique and interpretation,' says veteran pianist

At the "13th Seoul International Music Competition Presented by LG," many young pianists hoping to become the next Cho Seong-jin are enthusiastically competing. From the first round started on March 14, participants have to compete at the second and semi-finals, the finals to be held on March 25 and 26.

Polish pianist Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń will be the referee at this year's competition. The Dong-A Ilbo met the veteran pianist in Seoul who is intimately connected to Cho Seong-jin. She had chaired the jury of the 2015 Chopin International Piano Competition, where Cho won first prize.

Popowa-Zydroń was entered at the semi-finals at the Chopin competition in 1975. As a successful professional musician and professor, she has been teaching at the Bydgoszcz Music Academy since 1991.

Having observed the first and second rounds of the Seoul competition, she said Korean players' talent is very well known in Europe. "Classical music is a Western music but Koreans understand the genre far better than European people," she said. "In the past, Korean pianists were good in skills and technique, and European counterparts good in interpretation. These days, however, Korean people also excel in interpretation. It is a miracle."

Having accumulated a successful career, she didn't forget to give advice and encouragement to the students participating the competition.

"Even if you keep failing, you should not think it's the end of the world," the prestigious pianist said. "Building award winning career is not important. If you love music and do your best, you will be naturally able to build your own career."

Dong-Wook Kim creating@donga.com