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USC’s Somang Jeagal wins 10K piano prize

June 13, 2014

Next recital scheduled for Oct. 25 at USC’s Newman Recital Hall

Winner of several national as well as international competitions, Jeagal continues to broaden his musical aspirations by participating in master classes with eminent concert pianists such as Leon Fleisher, John O’Conor, Klaus Hellwig, Hiroko Nakamura and Hae-sun Paik. (Photo – courtesy of Somang Jeagal)

Somang Jeagal

Somang Jeagal (제갈소망), a full scholarship USC Artist Diploma Keyboard student, won grand prize in the 61st Annual Washington International Competition for Piano last weekend.

The award comes with a $10,000 financial prize, as well as a debut solo recital and concerto appearance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. with the FMMC Avanti Orchestra. Jeagal will also be presented in a debut solo recital on the prestigious Phillips Collection Recital Series.

Born in Daegu, South Korea in 1983, Jeagal began to play piano at the age of five, and at 11 gave his first recital debut. He studied at Seoul Arts High School, followed by graduation with highest honors from Seoul National University with bachelor and master of music degrees.

Winner of several national as well as international competitions, Jeagal is a recipient of a grand prize at the Korea Music Foundation Competition and first prize at the Asia-Pacific Young Artist Competition.

Jeagal performed many international music festivals and concert series at major concert halls, such as Salzburger Schloss Konzerte of Austria, Konzerthaus of Germany, La Madeleine of France, Seoul Arts Center and Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Currently, he is working with professor Kevin Fitz-Gerald in the Artist Diploma Program at the USC Thornton School of Music.

His next recital is scheduled for Oct. 25, 8 p.m. at USC’s Newman Recital Hall.