Concertino Praga 2025 Announces Its Winners
Published: 14. september 2025
The 59th edition of the international radio competition Concertino Praga has taken place, culminating in the final concerts on 12 September at the Bethlehem Chapel and on 13 September in the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum. The contestants delivered outstanding performances that captivated both the jury and the audience. In both categories, the winners were young performers from South Korea: oboist Raeun Hong and violinist Yeonah Kim. The competition was traditionally organised by Czech Radio and the Academy of Classical Music in cooperation with the Karel Komárek Family Foundation (KKFF).
Eight musicians reached the finals of the 59th edition of Concertino Praga – four in the wind instruments category and four in the keyboard and string instruments category.
Wind instruments category
On Friday 12 September at the Bethlehem Chapel, the wind instrument finalists performed. The contestants were flutist Chantal Ramona Veit from Italy, saxophonist Víctor Amadeu Puigbò Rincón from Spain, oboist Raeun Hong from South Korea, and Czech clarinetist Otakar Antonín Štefan. They were accompanied by the Pardubice Chamber Philharmonic conducted by Chief Conductor Vahan Mardirossian.
The winner was oboist Raeun Hong, who impressed the jury with her powerful interpretation of Julius Rietze’s Concert Piece for Oboe and Orchestra.
The Audience Award in this category went to Czech clarinetist Otakar Antonín Štefan.
“With wind instruments, the personality of the soloist becomes much more evident – in the work with breath and phrasing, you quickly sense how they communicate with you. That ultimately decided the winner, even though all performances at the Bethlehem Chapel were at an incredibly high level,” said Jury Chair Dmitry Sitkovetsky after Friday’s final.
Keyboard and string instruments category
The final evening of the keyboard and string instruments category took place the following day in the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum. Accompanied by the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Tomáš Brauner, the contestants were pianist Matvejs Fokins from Latvia, violinist Yeonah Kim from South Korea, cellist Darin Lambrev from Bulgaria, and Czech accordionist Viktor Stocker.
With her interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Yeonah Kim amazed the jury, becoming the youngest laureate in the competition’s history at the age of eleven.
The Audience Award went to Czech accordionist Viktor Stocker.
“Perfect technical mastery is a given in this competition. What deeply moved me, however, was the desire and ability of the finalists to convey something meaningful to the audience through their performance. Tonight was a true celebration of music in the best sense,” said jury member, cellist Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt.
The winners were decided by an international jury composed of leading musical personalities: trumpeter Martin Angerer, oboist Jana Brožková, pianist Ian Fountain, clarinetist Andrea Götsch, accordionist Ladislav Horák, cellist Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, violinists Milan Šetena and Dmitry Sitkovetsky, flutist Henrik Wiese, and EBU representative Octavia Galescu.
As the main partner of the competition, the KKFF awarded the laureates financial scholarships of EUR 5,000 each for their further musical development. In addition, the winners of both categories received the opportunity to record a professional CD at the Czech Radio studio. With this step, the KKFF continues its efforts to support young talents and create opportunities for their growth.
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