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Korean pianist wins Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in Salt Lake City

(Photo courtesy of Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation) Changyong Shin, 24, of South Korea, acknowledges applause after performing with the Utah Symphony and conductor Conner Gray Covington in the final round of the Gina Bachauer International Artists Piano Competition in Abravanel Hall on Friday, June 22, 2018.

Changyong Shin, a 24-year-old pianist from South Korea, won first prize in the Gina Bachauer International Artists Piano Competition, which wrapped up Saturday night in Salt Lake City’s Abravanel Hall.

His prize includes $50,000, a commemorative gold medal, concert engagements with the Utah Symphony and in New York City, and a recording engagement.

Aristo Sham, 22, of Hong Kong, won the silver medal and $25,000. He also will perform with the Utah Symphony on a future season. Sergey Belyavskiy, 24, of Russia, won the bronze medal and $15,000. The nine other semifinalists received $1,500 each.

Shin was voted the Bachauer champion by a nine-member international jury after three rounds of competition that began June 11 and initially included 40 pianists ages 19-32, representing 17 countries. For the final round, each of the three finalists performed two concertos with the Utah Symphony over two nights.

It was the 17th edition of the now-quadrennial competition, which started in 1976 and is named for a prominent Greek pianist who had a long-running association with the Utah Symphony.