Junyoung Choi wins prizes at SD Seoul International Vocal Competition and Concorso Viotti
South Korean baritone Junyoung Choi, a student in Ralf Lukas's singing class, won the Grand Prize and a special prize at the SD Seoul International Vocal Competition 2025 in South Korea, as well as third prize at the Concorso Viotti in Vercelli, Italy.
The SD Seoul International Vocal Competition was held for the third time in 2025. A total of 244 applications were received, of which 35 were shortlisted as finalists. The final took place on 6 September 2025 in the UOS Art Hall of the Seoul University Music Centre. Junyoung Choi emerged as the winner and, in addition to the Grand Prize, received the Sol Opera Special Award, which includes an engagement in an opera production by the Sol Opera Company.
The Concorso Internazionale di Musica ‘Giovanni Battista Viotti’ was founded in 1950 and has since been held annually in alternating categories of piano, violin and opera singing. The final took place on 18 October 2025 at the Municipal Theatre of Vercelli in the Italian region of Piermont in cooperation with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Teatro alla Scala di Milano. Junyoung Choi won the 3rd prize, worth 4,000 euros.
Junyoung Choi, born in South Korea in 1996, studied at the Korea National University of Arts before coming to the Eisler in 2024 to pursue his master's degree. He has already won several awards at national and international music competitions, including the Korea National Opera Competition, the Korea Broadcasting System Music Competition, the Daegu International Vocal Music Competition, the AsLiCo Competition, the Salvatore Licitra Competition, the Franco Bonisolli Competition and the Piero Cappuccilli Competition. He has participated in numerous opera productions, including at Opera Domani and the Teatro Sociale di Como.