Results of the final of the 31st Clara Haskil international piano competition
Dear audience, partners, and media representatives,
The final of the 31st Clara Haskil International Piano Competition was held on September 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Le Reflet Theatre in Vevey. On this occasion, three young pianists, selected from 133 international applications, presented their concerto program:
Simon Haje – Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Paul Lecocq – Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
Seungho Chung – Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
The three finalists were accompanied by the Zermatt Festival Orchestra, conducted by Gábor Takács-Nagy.
The international jury, chaired by Finghin Collins (Ireland, Clara Haskil Prize laureate 1999) and composed of Silke Avenhaus, Hyoung Joon Chang, Marc Coppey, Nino Gvetadze, Piers Lane, and Kathryn Stott, has chosen to award the Clara Haskil Prize to:
Paul Lecocq
Simon Haje (Germany)
A pianist of exceptional promise, Simon began piano studies at age 6 and was later admitted as a junior student to the Universität der Künste Berlin. He has garnered first prizes in numerous international competitions across Europe (Munich, Düsseldorf, Aarhus, and more). He has also performed with leading ensembles, including the Konzerthausorchester Berlin under Christoph Eschenbach, and currently pursues a Bachelor’s degree at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln.
Paul Lecocq (France)
Currently studying under Claire Désert and Romano Pallottini at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, Paul has trained extensively in France and is a laureate of prestigious competitions (Pierre Barbizet, Piano Campus, Euregio). His appearances include major French festivals and performances with orchestras both domestically and internationally.
Seungho Chung (South Korea)
Born in 2010, Seungho is emerging as one of the youngest prodigies in classical piano. A student at Yewon Art School, he is mentored by Julius-Jeongwon Kim. He has already accumulated first prizes at major competitions including the Korean Chopin Competition (2022), Liszt Competition (2021), and Asia Tchaikovsky Grand Prize (2024), and recently earned an encouragement award at the Ettlingen Competition. He regularly performs in high-profile concert venues across South Korea and Japan.
Modern Times Prize
A nod to the friendship between Clara Haskil and Charlie Chaplin, the Modern Times Prize is endowed with CHF 3,000 and is awarded for the best performance of the commissioned work written for the competition. This prize is awarded by the official competition jury, composed of renowned musicians and educators, who evaluate the performance of the required piece. It is presented at the final of the Clara Haskil Competition on September 5, 2025.
The winner of the Modern Times Prize is semi-finalist Yeonsoo Do for her interpretation of “Le Monde des Adultes” by Sam Perkin. For the first time in its history, the Clara Haskil Competition invited the Modern Times Prize winner to perform on stage, allowing the audience to discover the work of Franco-Irish composer Sam Perkin, which was interpreted during the quarter-final round. This unique musical moment offered the public an opportunity to hear Sam Perkin’s score in concert, highlighting contemporary creation within the framework of the competition.
Born in Seoul, pianist Yeonsoo Do began her training at the Academy for Young Prodigies and went on to study at the most prestigious music schools in Korea. A laureate of several major competitions, she has performed as a soloist with renowned orchestras and regularly takes part in concerts and festivals across Korea. Passionate about chamber music, her piano trio was invited to the Shanghai Music Festival. She also performed at the Amalfi Music Festival in Italy and the Aspen Music Festival in the United States, where she won the Aspen Concerto Competition. Awarded the Young Virtuosos 2023 prize and selected as a Yamaha Rising Artist, she continues her advanced studies at the Seoul National University under Professor Hee Sung Joo.
The Modern Times Prize is awarded for the best interpretation of the commissioned work, reflecting Clara Haskil’s commitment to contemporary music. Since 2013, a new piece has been commissioned for each edition of the competition.
For the 2025 edition, the prize piece Le Monde des Adultes was composed by Sam Perkin, a Franco-Irish composer and graduate of both CIT Cork School of Music and the Conservatoire de Lyon. Known for blending classical and experimental idioms, Perkin explores themes of surprise and wonder in his music. In 2017, he was awarded Ireland’s “Next Generation” artist bursary.
For the first time, the commissioned composer was present throughout the performance. Sam Perkin listened to all 25 competitors and advised the jury.
About “Le Monde des Adultes”, dedicated to Maurice Ravel
“In this dreamlike journey, a child is lost at sea in a vast and enchanted ocean. On the horizon, we gradually hear the tolling bells of the adult world, the resounding bells of time, and the chiming bells of suffering. Despite all these elemental forces, the innocence of the world of the child, being innately more powerful and assured, will emerge once again in our hearts and win the day, forever and ever.”
Educational Project: La Jeune Critique
Since 2011, the Clara Haskil Competition has led an innovative educational project in partnership with the University of Geneva’s Musicology Department. For the eighth time, seven students will be present in Vevey throughout the event.
Named “La Jeune Critique,” this project immerses students behind the scenes, sharpens their critical skills through awarding the Coup de Cœur Prize, encourages engagement with public, jury, and candidates, and includes daily radio segments in collaboration with Musique Matin on RTS hosted by Sydney Fierro.
In 2025, Professor Christoph Riedo (UNIGE) will be joined by Laure Spaltenstein, lecturer, to prepare the students from January through the semester. The project offers a rich experience, helping students enter professional fields like production, publishing, media, journalism, or cultural management.
Orchestra Prize
At the end of the final round, all members of the orchestra are invited to vote to select the winner of the Orchestra Prize.
Awarded for the first time in 2025, this prize includes an invitation to perform at a future edition of the Zermatt Music Festival, as part of the festival’s Academy chamber music concerts.
A series of special prizes rounds out the awards list: Audience Prize, Coup de Cœur Prize (awarded by a jury of musicology students from the University of Geneva)
Children’s Corner Prize (awarded by a children’s jury from the Vevey Conservatory), Orchestra Prize.
The Audience Prize is awarded to Paul Lecocq
The Coup de Cœur Prize is awarded to semi-finalist Anna Avramidou
The Children’s Corner Prize is awarded to Seungho Chung
The Orchestra Prize is awarded to Simon Haje
All rounds were open to the public and broadcast live at www.clara-haskil.chand from La Grenette across from Théâtre Le Reflet.
The final will be broadcast on RTS radio on September 8.
